Chemical composition of snakes.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35763487.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0266850 and PMC identifier 9239482.
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Abstract
The present study was carried out to provide insight into the body composition of snakes, which is an important basis for determination of nutrient requirement and physiological processes. Carcasses of 86 captive snakes (31 pythons, 32 colubrids and 23 boas) were available for analysis. Skins and vertebrae bones of 11 snakes and livers of 64 snakes were analysed separately from the carcasses. Crude nutrients, major minerals and trace elements were investigated. The content of crude nutrients of the whole body was similar to those of mammals and birds. Relatively high contents of copper, zinc and especially of iron (up to 23,973 mg/kg dry matter) were found in the body, particularly in the liver. There was an increase of the iron content of the whole body over age.
Medical subject headings
- Boidae