Have you ever had a staring contest with a snake? Anyone attempting such a competition should be prepared to lose. The snake will always win since they can't blink!
Instead of eyelids, snakes have a clear scale covering their eyes. This pair of protective goggles became visible this week on Emory the rat snake. As she prepares to shed her skin, a thin layer of fluid forms under her scales and makes her eyes appear cloudy.
The eye caps will come off with the rest of her skin. When I find a shed in her habitat, I always check to make sure the two half-sphere scales sloughed off neatly. That means that she has a fresh set of goggles ready to stare down the next person willing to challenge her to a staring contest.
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