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Why are snake teeth curved backward?
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snake
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).
Snake teeth are typically long, needle-sharp, and slightly recurved (curved backward). This anatomical feature serves a critical function in feeding: it facilitates the swallowing process and prevents prey from escaping. Because snakes must often consume live prey, the backward curvature ensures that the only direction a food item can move is down the throat, effectively anchoring the prey while the snake maneuvers its jaw to ingest it.1