Do King Snakes Have Fangs?
King snakes are a type of nonvenomous colubrid snake. Given their relative lack of venom, one might rightly assume that king snakes lack fangs.
Do King Snakes Have Teeth?
Though king snakes lack fangs, they do have teeth—small, sharp toothed structures that assist with holding and biting prey. King snakes are primarily non-threatening, nonvenomous snakes, so their teeth are not nearly as impressive or intimidating as the long, venomous fangs found in other snake species.
What Do King Snakes Do With Their Teeth?
The teeth of king snakes are mainly used to capture, kill and eat smaller prey. King snakes have a diverse, omnivorous diet that typically includes lizards, frogs and small rodent species.
Moreover, king snakes use their teeth to defend themselves. When threatened, king snakes rely on intimidating behaviors, such as hissing and striking, to ward of potential predators.
What Other Animals Have Fangs?
Many kinds of animals carry venom and use fangs to inject their toxin into prey, including:
- Reptiles – These include venomous snakes like cobras, rattlesnakes and mambas.
- Invertebrates – This group includes pest-insect species like scorpions, centipedes and wasps.
- Marine Animals – There are a number of venomous fish species that employ fangs, such as stonefish, lionfish and stingrays.
- Mammals – While extremely rare, fang-bearing mammals do exist. African Lion and Leopard shrews, for example, can use their venomous bite to deter predators.
In summary, king snakes are nonvenomous snakes and consequently lack fangs. These reptiles have small teeth that are used mainly for capturing, consuming and defending prey. Many other animals, however, do possess venom fangs that they use to hunt and protect themselves.
