Can a snake close its eyes?

Snakes have no eyelids, so they can never close their eyes or blink. Instead of eyelids, thin clear membrane cover their corneas, called spectacles or brilles. These are attached to their skin. Although they can not close their eyes, they can close the retinas when they are sleeping. read more

The fusion of the eyelids does not allow a snake to blink or close their eyes. Since the snake lacks external ear openings and eardrums, they hear by using their head to pick up vibrations and sounds from the ground. Experiments have shown that snakes can hear airborne sounds as well, although not well. read more

Ben Franklin esteemed the rattlesnake as a symbol of vigilance because its eyes were always open. Snakes' eyes are closed all the time. Rather than having movable eyelids, snakes have a single, fused, clear layer of skin over their eye, called a spectacle or brille (German for "glasses"), which protects the eye. read more