What is it Wednesday: March 10, 2021

 

Can you identify what's in this photo?

 

 

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

 

 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

 

 

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

 after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on

March 10, 2021. 

 

 

 

And the answer is....

This is the lower jawbone of a snake. 

Without a precise measurement it’s hard to pin down which type of snake it was, and a smaller head could also have been from an immature individual of a larger species. Our best guesses are garter snake, northern water snake or black rat snake – these are the most common snakes we see at Lutherlyn. (We also sometimes see ringneck snakes but they are much smaller.) 

Snake jaws are amazing because they are hinged to open very wide. As you can see in this photo, the teeth are also pointed backwards, which helps trap or direct the snake’s prey deeper into its mouth and throat. Something so simple is a part of what makes snakes impressive predators, even if they are very small.

It’s still a little too cold for snakes to be active at Lutherlyn, but they’ll be emerging from hibernation in the next month or so. Starting to see snakes is one of the many signs that indicates spring is arriving!

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!