All snakes are predators, eating meat only. They capture their prey in one of three ways. Some catch and swallow their prey immediately. Others catch their prey, then constrict it until the animal is dead. Poisonous snakes use a toxin that immobilizes or kills their prey.
Snakes can dislocate their jaw so they can swallow prey much bigger than themselves.
Poisonous snakes have two specialized hollow teeth called fangs. Fangs are attached to venom glands which produce poison. The eastern hognose snake also has enlarged non-poisonous fangs located in the rear of its mouth which are used for deflating toads, their favorite prey. Fangs are not found in all snakes, but all snakes do have teeth, usually six rows worth. The teeth are curved backwards, just like the barbs on a fishing hook, which keeps their prey from escaping.