Biology Students - Dissection of a Snake
Sophomore Morgan Hall brought in a road killed Prairie King snake (Lampropeltis calligaster) approximately 5-6 years old, NON-venomous, for dissection. It was fresh killed the night before, so it made a good specimen. 3rd and 7th hour Biology students are starting a unit on reptiles and amphibians as the final unit of the year. These students as well as other curious students watched as I dissected the snake and we identified the internal organs. This was a female and was of moderately small size~ 31 inches. Prairie King snakes can reach 72" and eat mice, rats, other rodents, other snakes and frogs and toads. They are moderately resistant to venom of venomous snakes, but will eat what is available. I have a young one as a pet, "Thrain" is 3-4 years old and about 24" long.
My father is a herpetologist and retired professor of zoology at Illinois State University. He has studied reptiles and amphibians for 50+ years. He proudly instilled in me a love of 'herps', my favorite being snakes.
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