Feeding behavior of crayfish-eating snakes

Research by Noah Gripshover and Bruce Jayne at the University of Cincinnati has determined how the size and molt status of crayfish affects feeding behavior of 2 species of snakes. The species that normally eats freshly molted crayfish (Regina septemvittata) does not use its body to restrain prey, and it occasionally breaks off and eats only the claws of crayfish too large to be swallowed whole. The species that normally eats hard-shelled crayfish (Liodytes alleni) restrains the prey with its body, but when eating soft-shelled crayfish during laboratory experiments prey restraint with the body was reduced or absent.