KnowHow team explains: The shedding of skin is a regular feature of all snakes. But the frequency with which they shed their skin varies with species and the health of the snake.

It’s a common practice to moult (to shed skin) at least thrice a year. However the frequency may increase after an injury.

The skin is the first line of defence of any living being and is constantly subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Its subsequent lines of defence being, the formation of blood clots, scab, cellular reorganisation and scar formation.

Next comes the stage of continuous production of new cells in the deeper layers of the skin to provide replacement. In snakes, the substitute cells are not produced continuously, but in a cycle and as a complete unit.

While preparing the alternative skin, the basal layer of the epidermis (the outer most layer of skin) rapidly proliferates to produce a complete new outer epidermis.

The breakdown of the older layer’s basal cuboidal cells leads to the formation of a milky fluid which gives a dull look to the snake and imparts a milky appearance to the eye.

After this, the skin starts to loosen and the eyes become clear. With its vision back, the snake rubs off the loose skin around its mouth and crawls out of it completely.

The question was sent by Indranil Seth from Dhanbad