Talk:Snake

Semi-protected edit request for the molting section on 1 May 2024
Most of the first paragraph in the "Molting" section would fit better in the parent "Skin" section, as it describes how the scales work and not reasons for/the mechanics of molting. I suggest that it should be in between the second and third paragraph of the "Skin" section. The first sentence also needs some help, and I suggest this change:

"For a snake, the skin has been modified to its specialized form of locomotion"

The first and last two sentences should be kept in the "Molting" section, and the beginning of the "Molting" section would now read like this:

"Molting (or "ecdysis") allows for old, worn skin to be replaced by newer skin with revitalized colors and patterns. Molting occurs periodically throughout the life of a snake. Before each molt, the snake regulates it's diet and seeks defensible shelter. Just before shedding, the skin becomes grey and the snake's eyes turn silvery. The inner surface of the old skin liquefies, causing it to separate from the new skin beneath it. After a few days, the eyes clear and the snake reaches out of its old skin, which splits. The snake rubs its body against rough surfaces to aid in the shedding of its old skin. In many cases, the castaway skin peels backward over the body from head to tail in one piece, like taking the dust jacket off a book, revealing a new, larger, brighter layer of skin which has formed underneath.[58][62] Renewal of the skin by molting supposedly increases the mass of some animals such as insects, but in the case of snakes this has been disputed.[58][60] The process also releases pheromones that increases the attraction of mates.[61]"

I hope this suggestion helps make the section more understandable. BitUniverse (talk) 20:09, 1 May 2024 (UTC)


 * ✅. Note that the first sentence is different from what you suggested, but the meaning is the same. Ships  &amp;  Space (Edits) 20:04, 10 May 2024 (UTC)