Shed!

I normally write about our mew residents in “News from the Mews,” but this non-feathered member of our Living Collections is just too cool not to share. Emory, the Great Plains Rat Snake, has lived at the museum since 2013 and can be found basking in the Curiosity Center.

Whether you find snakes creepy or irresistible, it’s often for the exact same reason: snakes are weird. They are so different from the furry mammals or cute birds we find immediately appealing. It is difficult for us to relate to their strange scaly, legless bodies. Those differences, though, mean they have some unique adaptations that make them endlessly fascinating.

One example is their skin. Unlike mammals, snake skin does not grow with the animal; the snake has to shed the outer layer in order to grow. Last week, Emory had cloudy, opaque eyes that meant she was preparing to shed. A few days later, I noticed her rubbing her head on rocks and logs in her enclosure. The skin on her head broke free and she worked the rest off in once piece. The final shed is actually inside-out because it peels off the snake like you peel a sock off your foot. I was mesmerized by the whole process and I’m sure she feels good with her fresh, shiny scales.