How do snakes swallow prey wider than their heads?

Snakes are able to swallow prey significantly wider than their heads due to their highly flexible skulls and specialized jaw structures. Unlike most animals, a snake's skull consists of multiple bones held together by elastic ligaments and muscles, allowing for significant movement and expansion.12

Key adaptations include:

• Independent Jaw Movement: The two halves of the lower jaw are not fused at the chin, and the bones of the upper jaw can move independently. This allows the snake to "walk" its jaws over the prey, moving one side forward while the other holds the prey in place.12
• Flexible Architecture: Many of the skull bones are connected by hinge joints, permitting rotation and independent movement of different segments.2
• Elasticity: Elastic ligaments allow the mouth and throat to stretch extensively to accommodate large meals.1

Depending on the species, snakes may use "walk feeding," where jaw arches move in a specific sequence, or "inertial feeding," where both jaws are engaged to pull the prey into the throat.2