What physical adaptation allows the worm snake to push through soil with surprising efficiency during its fossorial activity?
Answer
A pointed, bony head acting like a battering ram
The morphology of the worm snake is specifically engineered for its subterranean habitat and diet. To successfully penetrate and move through soil—a process called fossorial locomotion—the snake has developed a specialized head structure. Its head is described as being pointed and bony. This structure functions mechanically like a battering ram, enabling the snake to efficiently push aside or penetrate the soil structure. This physical tool is vital for accessing the earthworms upon which it feeds exclusively, contrasting with the head structures of snakes relying on striking prey above ground.
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