Why and how do snakes shed their skins?

DW (English)

All snakes regularly renew their outer layer, and molting can take days. Why do they do it? This viewer question comes from Anahita C. in India.

Transcript

00:01Why do snakes shed their skin?

00:04All reptiles regularly cast off their outermost layer,

00:08but snakes shed their skins all at once throughout their lives.

00:12This process is called ecdysis,

00:15and it can last anywhere from several hours to weeks.

00:23Before it begins to molt,

00:25a snake produces special hormones

00:27that can cause new skin to grow under the layer of old skin.

00:32Lymphatic fluid is released between the old and new layers.

00:37Then the old layer turns a pale color and slowly peels off.

00:42The lymph causes the snake's eyes to turn a milky bluish shade,

00:47a sign that molting is about to start.

00:50The shedding begins on the head.

00:53Bit by bit, the skin sloughs off in one piece

00:57all the way to the tip of the animal's tail.

01:00The snake speeds matters up by rubbing against stones or trees.

01:06There are simple reasons why snakes molt.

01:09First, the reptiles never stop growing,

01:12but their skin doesn't grow with them.

01:14That's why young animals shed their skins quite often.

01:18In many species, it can happen practically every month

01:22until they reach a certain size.

01:24In general, older and larger animals will only molt about twice a year.

01:30Another reason snakes regularly cast off their outer layer

01:34is to rid themselves of parasites and repair injuries.

01:38They also often molt during mating season or after giving birth.

01:44While the shedding is going on,

01:46they usually lay low, eat less, and grow more aggressive.

01:50So it's a good time to leave them alone.

01:54Until then.

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