Slow-motion footage has revealed how venomous snakes deploy their fangs, with scientists filming 36 species at 1,000 frames per second striking ballistic gel that mimicked human skin and muscle. Vipers hit within 100 milliseconds, then "walk" their fangs forward; elapids tend to sneak closer and deliver repeated bites; colubrids open wider and saw or rotate their jaws to drive venom in. One blunt-nosed viper even snapped a fang on camera. Published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the study could inform conservation, researchers said.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.