How do venomous snakes inject venom into prey?

Venomous snakes inject venom into their prey using specialized salivary glands that produce potent toxins, which are then delivered through modified teeth. The specific mechanism of injection depends on the type of snake and its tooth structure:1

• Viperids: These snakes possess long, tubular fangs located on a short, rotatable maxillary bone, allowing for efficient delivery.12
• Elapids: Cobras and their relatives feature short, hollow fangs fixed in a stationary position on the maxillary bone.12
• Rear-fanged snakes: These species have grooved teeth at the posterior end of the maxillary. They typically bite, chew, and hold onto their prey to ensure the toxin is successfully injected.12

Regardless of the specific tooth type, these morphological adaptations facilitate the rapid immobilization of prey, allowing the snake to consume its meal safely.1