Scientists discovered that snakes have lost two important genes related to hunger and eating. These genes are called ghrelin and MBOAT4.
Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone. It helps control appetite and tells the body when to eat. The MBOAT4 gene makes an enzyme that helps ghrelin work properly.
The researchers studied 112 different reptiles including snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. They found that all snakes have lost both of these genes. Some lizards like chameleons also lost them.
This gene loss might be connected to how snakes eat and digest food. Many snakes can go without eating for months or even over a year. They also eat very large meals at once. Their bodies work differently from other animals during these long fasting periods.
Losing these genes may help snakes survive with this unusual eating pattern. The scientists think this shows how animals can adapt to extreme feeding habits over time.