What characterizes the dentition of *Dasypeltis scabra* during feeding?
Answer
Reduced dentition or only small, vestigial teeth anteriorly
A key feature distinguishing the Rhombic Egg-Eater's feeding apparatus is its lack of functional teeth typical of predatory snakes. Many specimens are described as having reduced dentition, or possessing only very small, vestigial teeth located towards the front (anteriorly). This absence of conventional grasping teeth is crucial because the snake relies entirely on skeletal modification—the modified vertebrae in the esophagus—to break down the eggshell, rather than attempting to puncture or grip the shell externally with dental structures.
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