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Old 06-26-2008, 12:01 PM   #1
v_various
Myth or Fact: Snakes unhinging their jaw

I see it posted here sometimes that snakes unhinge their jaw. I've always been told that's a myth - and I'm not making any claim to know what I'm talking about, but what's up with that? There are plenty of sites that say either they DO or DON'T unhinge, so, why the confusion? I could list for days new articles that reference the "snakes ability to unhinge their jaw" But I don't come across too many scientific sources or diagrams. Do people just assume? What do you guys think, any scientific evidence that snakes unhinge? Any opinions on the matter?

Here's what I could find on the 'don't unhinge' side of things:
don't unhinge1 (pieced together from I a book I have)
don't unhinge2
don'd unhinge3 (the best diagram, imo)

Sources saying they DO unhinge:
unhinge1
unhinge2
uhinge3

So, is it accepted science now-a-days that they don't unhinge, or is there still some debate?