Hinged teeth in the enigmatic colubrid, Iguanognathus werneri

Iguanognathus is a monotypic genus known from only one specimen and notable for the unusual morphology of its teeth. Here, we study the tooth morpholo gy of Iguanognathus werneri in detail, using scanning electron microscopy. The teeth of Iguanognathus are found to be hinged. Hinged teeth in other sn akes are often correlated with dietary specialization, and an easily broken tail. Examination of Iguanognthus reveals an arthropod as gut contents and a broken tail.