News Ecosystems

A king snake’s strength is in its squeeze

Studies suggest how the snake coils matters more than muscle size

King snake

HOLD TIGHT  King snakes coil around mice like a spring, squeezing tight enough to stop a rodent’s heart.

D. Penning

By Elizabeth Eaton

This article is only available to Science News subscribers.

Subscribers, enter your e-mail address to access our archives.

Not a subscriber?

Science News is a nonprofit.

Support us by subscribing now.

More Stories from Science News on Ecosystems

  1. Wildebeest herd
    Life

    Only 3 percent of Earth’s land hasn’t been marred by humans

    By Jonathan Lambert
  2. aspen trees burning in a prescribed burn at Fishlake National Forest
    Ecosystems

    Wildfires launch microbes into the air. How big of a health risk is that?

    By Megan Sever
  3. fish swimming by coral reef
    Oceans

    Corals’ hidden genetic diversity corresponds to distinct lifestyles

    By Devin A. Reese
  4. a cat with a bird in its mouth
    Life

    These are the 5 costliest invasive species, causing billions in damages

    By Jonathan Lambert
  5. piles of grasshoppers on a sidewalk
    Animals

    Weather radar shows 30 metric tons of grasshoppers swarmed Las Vegas one night

    By Susan Milius
  6. urchin barren
    Ecosystems

    How kelp forests off California are responding to an urchin takeover

    By Anushree Dave
  7. a stream with mountains in the background
    Ecosystems

    Simple hand-built structures can help streams survive wildfires and drought

    By Brianna Randall
  8. street light in a suburban neighborhood
    Animals

    Dim lighting may raise the risk of a West Nile virus exposure

    By Bethany Brookshire

From the Nature Index

Paid Content