There’s something unusual (and creepy) about the way snakes stare. Snakes will trump anyone in a blinking contest!
Their gaze seems to be sharp and focused, and regardless of how long you observe you would never catch them blinking.
This leads many snake enthusiasts to wonder, do snakes blink their eyes? Do they even have eyelids? Or is there something magical about their stare as some myths claim?
Snakes stare the way they do because they can’t blink. Unlike humans and many other mammals, snakes have no eyelids. Their eyes remain open, but not unprotected. Snakes have coverage that plays the role of the eyelid.
Interested? Let’s move further.
Do Snakes Blink Their Eyes?
Snakes don’t blink, and they’re not the only animals without this ability. Geckos and some lizard species also don’t blink.
While humans see this as a defect, for snakes it is completely normal. Just as we do not need tails, snakes don’t need to blink.
Because of how creepy it is to us that snakes don’t blink, a myth sprouted suggesting that snakes have hypnotic abilities.
Movies and folktales have fueled this myth (like Medusa), as well as how prey gets frozen at the sight of a snake. However, there’s no scientific evidence for this.
You will not get hypnotized by a snake, but you might be terrified! Prey likely get frozen out of fear, not hypnosis.
Do Snakes Have Eyelids?
The reason snakes don’t blink is that they have no eyelids. Eyelids are common for humans and no healthy person can be without one, but snakes are different from humans in this aspect.
These reptiles function so well without eyelids that, if they had the consciousness of humans, they’d probably be surprised that we have eyelids.
Why Don’t Snakes Have Eyelids?
The simple answer to this is that snakes don’t need them. Eyelids are not important to snakes, and they don’t have to blink either. Eyelids would make a snake deficient and unable to function.
Because they’re so close to the soil, if snakes had eyelids their eyes would remain closed, shutting them out.
Snakes also lack the eye muscles that make humans and mammals blink, which comes as the next reason snakes don’t have eyelids.
However, their eyes still need protection. Without any cover, snakes would be vulnerable to dust and debris as they navigate the soil.
They would also be at risk of injury. Fortunately, they are not left without options.
What Do Snakes Have in Place of Eyelids?
Snakes have a spectacle—also called a brille—that plays the protective role of an eyelid.
The spectacle is a transparent scale that stays over the snake’s eyes and protects the eyes from external danger.
The brille also keeps the snake’s eyes moist. Without it, the ever-opened eyes will get dried out. Snakes produce fluids as humans do, and the brille prevents the fluids from escaping.
Though we can’t see the brille from our perspective, it is attached to the snake’s skin.
When snakes shed, they also shed off their brilles. Their eyes take on a different color during this period.
Why are my Snake’s Eyes White?
Snakes shed their skin periodically, a process known as ecdysis. During this stage, it also drops a layer of the brilles.
When the brille sheds, the snake’s eyes turn white, and for an inexperienced snake owner, this can be discomforting. However, it isn’t a sign of illness or infection.
Snakes tend to shed old skin after they’ve outgrown it or if they need to get rid of parasites.
The whiteness in the snake’s eyes is a result of the fluid secreted to remove the old skin. This fluid is creamy in color. The snake’s sight gets poorer when it is shedding the spectacle, but it clears afterward.
The shedding process is not without its complications. If you have a snake in captivity, do well to ensure the process is without fault.
Sometimes the old brille remains after the skin has been shed, and the “retained spectacle” can cause health issues.
You’ll know if the brille may still be on the eyes through close examination if it remains foggy after the shedding process.
You can prevent this from happening by ensuring the snake’s enclosure is humid enough. This would make the old brille moist for it to fall off.
When you do notice a “retained spectacle”, take the snake to a veterinarian.
You might decide to let it fall off on its own, but that leaves the snake prone to infection. Removing it yourself can also be risky both for the snake and you.
How Do Snakes Sleep Without Eyelids?
With no eyelids to close, how do snakes sleep with their eyes open? It is difficult to tell when a snake is asleep because its eyes remain open throughout, but that’s how they sleep.
Snakes sleep with their eyes open. If this sounds strange, consider that we sleep with some senses open, like hearing.
Just like in humans, sleep for snakes begins in the brain. The brain shuts down the retinas to ease light from shining through, which then makes it possible for the snake to sleep.
So if you see your snake staring into space and unmoved, chances are it is just getting a shut-eye.
Other Animals Without Eyelids You Should Know
We mentioned earlier that snakes aren’t the only animals without eyelids, and gave a few examples of these animals. Here is a full list of animals that have no eyelids:
- Frogs and most amphibians
- Skinks
- Geckos
- Some lizard species
- Fish
- Invertebrates
Wrap Up
Snakes and humans have some biological similarities, but there are also numerous differences. One such difference is in the eye structure.
Unlike humans and most other animals, snakes don’t have eyelids and don’t need them to survive. They can’t blink due to this but have a scale that protects the eyes.
These scales are attached to the snake’s skin and shed alongside it, which would make your snake’s eyes turn white. The unblinking snake also sleeps with its eyes open.
Also Read:
Are Snakes Blind? 8 Species Of Blind Snakes w/ Pictures
Featured Image Credit: ktsimage / Getty Images
