# Study finds five specialised regions in snake spines 2026-08-07T02:45:57+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A study of 13 Australian snakes has found five distinct regions in their spines, including a short neck containing just 7 to 12 vertebrae. Published in the Journal of Morphology, the research measured each vertebra and identified clear changes in shape along the backbone. The cervical, anterior thoracic, middle thoracic, posterior thoracic and lumbar regions appear to perform different mechanical roles. The findings challenge the view that snake spines are simple, uniform structures. The neck makes up about 5% of body length, rather than earlier estimates of up to 15%. Researchers say its similarity to the necks of lizards suggests snakes retained an ancestral structure while lengthening other parts of the body. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: anatomy, evolution, snakes, vertebrates Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/study-finds-five-specialised-regions-in-snake-spines/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/study-finds-five-specialised-regions-in-snake-spines/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.