Kinematics and Time Relations of Prey Capture by Gopher Snakes

High speed motion pictures of gopher snakes striking at and encircling their prey permitted analysis of the snakes' body movements and measurement of the time required for each phase of the prey capture sequence. The average strike at the prey covered a distance equivalent to 8% of the snake's body length. Forward movement of the head during the strike was produced by straightening a series of S-shaped curves of the body. An average of 29% of the snake's body length is active in producing the strike. The mean time interval between initiation of the strike and contact with