Do Snakes Have Bones? [Why They So Wiggly?!]

Yes, Snakes Definitely Have Bones

It is a common misconception that snakes are boneless, almost like living noodles. When you watch a snake slither, bend, and twist in seemingly impossible ways, it is easy to understand why people think they might not have a skeleton. But snakes absolutely have bones, and quite a lot of them actually.

Snakes are vertebrates, meaning they have a backbone just like dogs, cats, birds, and humans. What makes their skeleton unique is the sheer number of vertebrae they have and how their bones are structured to allow that incredible flexibility we all find so fascinating.

How Many Bones Do Snakes Have?

The number of bones a snake has depends on the species and its size. Most snakes have between 200 and 400 vertebrae, with some larger species having even more. Each vertebra has a pair of ribs attached to it, so a snake with 300 vertebrae also has 600 ribs. When you add in the skull bones, that gives most snakes somewhere between 400 and 1,000 total bones.

For comparison, humans have only 206 bones and 24 ribs. Snakes have us beat by a huge margin. All those extra vertebrae and ribs are what give snakes their incredible range of motion and their ability to move in ways that look almost supernatural.

Why Are Snakes So Flexible?

The secret to a snake’s flexibility is in how their vertebrae connect to each other. Each vertebra is connected to the next one by a ball and socket joint, similar to a human shoulder or hip joint. This type of joint allows movement in multiple directions. Now imagine having 200 to 400 of these joints stacked in a row, each one adding a small amount of movement, and you can see how a snake achieves such extreme flexibility.

The ribs are also not connected at the front like ours are. Human ribs connect to the sternum (breastbone) at the front, forming a rigid cage. Snake ribs are free floating on the ends, which allows them to spread apart and move independently. This is how a snake can swallow prey much wider than its own body and why you can see the outline of a meal moving through a snake after feeding.

The Snake Skull

A snake’s skull is another marvel of skeletal engineering. Unlike mammal skulls that are fused into a solid structure, snake skulls are made up of loosely connected bones that can move independently. The lower jaw is not fused at the chin. Instead, the two halves are connected by a stretchy ligament that allows them to spread apart.

This flexible skull is what allows snakes to swallow prey that is significantly wider than their head. The bones of the jaw can spread outward and forward, creating a much larger opening than you would expect by looking at the snake’s head. Contrary to popular belief, snakes do not actually dislocate their jaws when eating. The bones simply move apart within their normal range of motion thanks to those flexible connections.

Do Snakes Have Any Limbs?

Most snakes have no legs at all, but some species have tiny vestigial remnants of what used to be hind limbs. Boas and pythons, for example, have small spur like structures near their tail called pelvic spurs. These are actually remnants of ancient leg bones that have been reduced over millions of years of evolution.

These spurs are more prominent in males and are sometimes used during mating. They are visible as small claw like protrusions on either side of the cloaca. While they serve no locomotion purpose, they are a fascinating reminder that snakes evolved from lizard like ancestors that once had fully functional legs.

Can Snakes Break Their Bones?

Yes, snakes can break their bones, though it is not common. Spinal injuries can occur from falls, being dropped during handling, or from impacts. Rib fractures can happen if a snake is squeezed or handled too roughly. In the wild, encounters with predators or vehicles can cause broken bones.

Broken bones in snakes can be difficult to treat depending on the location and severity. Minor rib fractures often heal on their own with rest and proper husbandry. Spinal injuries can be more serious and may result in permanent mobility issues. If you suspect your snake has a broken bone, a visit to a reptile veterinarian is important for proper diagnosis and treatment.

This is one reason why careful handling is so important. Always support your snake’s body fully when holding it, and never let it dangle or drop. A snake that feels insecure will thrash around, which increases the risk of injury. If you want to learn more about keeping your pet snake safe, proper handling techniques are one of the most important things to master.

How Snakes Move Without Legs

Snakes use their muscular body and all those vertebrae and ribs to move in four primary ways. The most common is lateral undulation, where the snake pushes off objects and surfaces in an S shaped pattern. Concertina movement involves bunching up and extending, which is useful in tight spaces. Rectilinear movement is the slow, straight line crawling used by heavy bodied snakes. And sidewinding is the diagonal movement used by desert species to move across loose sand.

All of these movement methods rely on the snake’s skeleton working together with hundreds of muscles. Each rib has muscles attached that can contract independently, giving the snake incredible control over how different parts of its body move. It is one of nature’s most elegant solutions to getting around without legs.