Do snakes have tails?

[Freddy1X]

If a snake really does have a tail, where does it begin? If I see a mouse,
for instance, I can reliably say that it's tail begins ( here ) and ends (
there ). A snake can't be all tail because it still has a head, so that
implies a tail somewhere.
Coins have heads and tails, but what about a two headed coin?
What about a two headed snake, would it still have a tail?
If a snake has a story to tell, it would have a tale.
Can you sit in the snake's lap when he tells it?

Freddy,
can't make heads or tails of this.

[Dennis Lee Bieber]

Post by Freddy1X
If a snake really does have a tail, where does it begin? If I see a mouse,
for instance, I can reliably say that it's tail begins ( here ) and ends (
there ). A snake can't be all tail because it still has a head, so that
implies a tail somewhere.

As I recall, the skeletal structure of snakes incorporate vestigial
legs. One could decree the tail to be the part which occurs behind these
legs... Or if one wants something a bit easier to see -- the portion after
the cloaca (since cloaca and forward would be "abdomen")

[tom]

On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 12:15:51 -0500

Post by Dennis Lee Bieber

Post by Freddy1X
If a snake really does have a tail, where does it begin? If I see a
mouse, for instance, I can reliably say that it's tail begins
( here ) and ends ( there ). A snake can't be all tail because it
still has a head, so that implies a tail somewhere.

As I recall, the skeletal structure of snakes incorporate
vestigial legs. One could decree the tail to be the part which occurs
behind these legs... Or if one wants something a bit easier to see --
the portion after the cloaca (since cloaca and forward would be
"abdomen")

There are some snake-like creatures in Austrailia that still have arms
and legs. They may be a different branch of evolution. The snakes that
didn't lose their limbs. They are called Skinks
--
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[ [ / \/ _/
_[ [ \ /_/

[Freddy1X]

Post by tom
On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 12:15:51 -0500

Post by Dennis Lee Bieber

Post by Freddy1X
If a snake really does have a tail, where does it begin? If I see a
mouse, for instance, I can reliably say that it's tail begins
( here ) and ends ( there ). A snake can't be all tail because it
still has a head, so that implies a tail somewhere.

As I recall, the skeletal structure of snakes incorporate
vestigial legs. One could decree the tail to be the part which occurs
behind these legs... Or if one wants something a bit easier to see --
the portion after the cloaca (since cloaca and forward would be
"abdomen")

There are some snake-like creatures in Austrailia that still have arms
and legs. They may be a different branch of evolution. The snakes that
didn't lose their limbs. They are called Skinks

Aaw... I really wasn't trying for a serious reply. It's just been so quiet
here that I had to get something going. Hence the goofy questions an the
end of the OP.

D.L.B., by any chance will you be at MFF next month?



Freddy,
never left, just quiet.

[Dennis Lee Bieber]

Post by Freddy1X
D.L.B., by any chance will you be at MFF next month?

No... Can't afford it on retirement pay and $14K a year sucked up on
medical insurance and prescriptions

[Dan Skunk]

Post by Dennis Lee Bieber

Post by Freddy1X
D.L.B., by any chance will you be at MFF next month?

No... Can't afford it on retirement pay and $14K a year sucked up on
medical insurance and prescriptions

Ick... That sucks. :(

[Kat]

Well, I guess we have to define a tail. Merriam Webster's definition isn't really useful in terms of a snake, since the whole rear end of a snake tapers gradually. But every tail we definitely call a tail is just a terminal extension of the spine with nothing attached to it, and containing no organs. The final part of a snake's body doesn't have any ribs attached to the spine and has no organs in it, so I guess that's a tail.
Loading Image...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Snake-anatomy.svg

Post by Freddy1X
If a snake really does have a tail, where does it begin? If I see a mouse,
for instance, I can reliably say that it's tail begins ( here ) and ends (
there ). A snake can't be all tail because it still has a head, so that
implies a tail somewhere.
Coins have heads and tails, but what about a two headed coin?
What about a two headed snake, would it still have a tail?
If a snake has a story to tell, it would have a tale.
Can you sit in the snake's lap when he tells it?
Freddy,
can't make heads or tails of this.
--
Do not breathe vapors.
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