Catalysis is the increase in the rate of a chemical reaction due to the participation of an additional substance called a catalyst. With a catalyst, reactions occur faster and require less activation energy.
There are some species of snakes that live in the ground or right at the soil surface. These are worm snakes and earth snakes. They will get about 12 inches long when they are full grown. They eat earthworms, slugs, snails and insects that live in the soil, so they can be left alone under the mulch. Wood piles are another great place for snakes to hide. Wood that is used for heating homes should be stacked at least 12 inches off the ground. This will reduce the hiding places for snakes and their prey.
Snakes eat their prey whole and are able to consume prey three times larger than the diameter of their head because their lower jaw can separate from the upper jaw. To keep prey from escaping, snakes have rear-facing teeth that hold their prey in their mouths. Venomous snakes inject their prey with venom, while constrictors squeeze their prey. They do not need to hunt everyday. Anacondas and pythons can survive for up to a year without food after feeding. Snakes hunt mostly at night.