Why do snakes shed their skin?
Snakes shed their skin because they keep growing, but their skin does not stretch.
Pip’s answer
- Snakes shed their skin because they keep growing, but their skin does not stretch.
- Ooh, so a shiny new skin grows underneath the old one!
- The snake rubs on a rock and wiggles out, like pulling off a sock!
- Wow-ee, the old skin comes off in one long piece, inside out!
Try it together
Can you wiggle like a snake getting out of its skin?
For grown-ups
A snake's skin does not stretch as the snake grows, so it periodically sheds the whole outer layer, usually in one piece. Young snakes shed more often because they grow quickly. Shedding also removes parasites and worn skin. Before shedding, a snake's eyes look cloudy blue.
Ask your child: What other animals do you know that change their outside as they grow?
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