THE DAILY SNAKE # 18 - IS THIS SNAKE BLIND?

Have you ever seen a snake with glossy eyes?

Have you ever wondered if it could see? Snakes do not have eyelids, so their eyes are covered with a layer of skin that also sheds when the rest of their bodies do. Prior to shedding a snakes eyes will turn white, or cloudy. This particular scale is called an eye cap.

It is not uncommon to find wild snakes during this stage. Also, if you have a pet snake, this will happen prior to each shed. The eye cap will cloud first, and then clear again just before the shed.

"IS THIS SNAKE BLIND?" VIDEO

Previous "Daily Snake" posts:

As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:

proof-of-glossy-eyes-snake

Until next time…

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@papa-pepper I have read where Snakes are Vulnerable when they shed the Old Skin.
Like all snakes, rattlesnakes shed their skin periodically. While preparing to shed, they develop a layer of fluid underneath their outermost layer of skin. This fluid serves as a lubricant, helping the old skin to peel off. However, as snakes have clear scales over their eyes, the fluid covers their eyes for a few days. Herpetologists refer to snakes as "being blue" during this stage, as the fluid under the eye scale makes the eye take on a blue tint. This limits their vision significantly for a few days, usually causing snakes to spend this time hiding in a safe place. However, if they encounter a perceived threat during this time, they are more likely to react defensively.

That's what this one did. It felt threatened and struck.

Thanks for new video, Mate!...:)...

Amazing snake. Maybe she is blind?

I haven't gotten close to enough snakes to have ever seen this phenomenon. Something to keep tucked away for future reference!

The kids have really been enjoying this whole series. They are now requesting snake videos for casual watching. My mother in law came over yesterday and was shocked because they were riveted to a documentary about king cobras and she thought that might be too scary for them. Apparently not. Abigail was breathlessly recounting that this snake "could take down a whole ELEPHANT, Nana!!!!"