This is one of the things I read (How Snakes Work). I thought maybe I misunderstood because I've seen a lot of people claim that their snakes prefer a prey color over others. I've also seen people suggest trying a different colored prey item for a reluctant eater.Originally Posted by FoxReptiles
Good question. Found this.
Sight - Snakes do not see colors, but their eyes are equipped with a combination of light receptors: rods that provide low-light but fuzzy vision, and cones that produce clear images. The complexity of the eyes varies among species because of their different lifestyles. For instance, snakes that live primarily underground have smaller eyes that only process light and dark, but snakes that live above ground and hunt by sight have crystal-clear vision and good depth perception. Some species, specifically boas and pythons, have a second visual tool: Pit organs on their heads see heat sources in their surroundings like infrared goggles -- an effective ability for nocturnal hunters of warm-blooded animals.
Source: How Snakes Work
So. If their analogy is correct, pythons might see something more like the image below...
Also explains how hitting the head of that F/T rodent before offering it lets them know where to strike. In most rodents, the head is several degrees higher than the rest of their bodies (or so I hear.)
If they don't see the color...?
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