Snake spines have five regions, short necks

A new study in the Journal of Morphology reveals that snake spines are more complex than previously thought, containing five distinct anatomical regions rather than a uniform structure. By measuring vertebrae of three Australian venomous species, researchers found that snake necks are surprisingly short, comprising only 7-12 vertebrae, about 5% of body length, similar to lizards. This challenges earlier beliefs and suggests evolutionary constraints preserved neck structure.