Many species of non-venomous snakes kill their weights by constricting , that is, by strangling them between their rings . One of the best known examples is the boas constrictor (Boa constrictor ). As a study by Pennsylvania State University (USA) published in the journal Biology Letters has just revealed, these reptiles calculate the exact time they must oppress their victims and the pressure they must exert because they have sophisticated mechanisms to detect their signals. physical . And they stop squeezing exactly the moment the prey's heartbeat stops.
The experts discovered this mechanism through an experiment that consisted of exposing the reptiles to dead rats with an artificial heart manipulated by remote control. They also placed sensors on the bodies of the corpses to measure the pressure exerted. They then observed how the boas squeezed only while they felt the heart beats of the rodents. This implies a highly developed sense of touch, according to the authors of the research, who also ensure that this ability of the boas is innate.
