Can chams really choke?

[Chameleon Creator]

I've heard much debate about whether chameleons can choke or not.. I've heard a lot of people say not to feed them insects too large or too long because they will be a choking hazard.
Well like snakes they are reptiles, and snakes seem to swallow much larger prey, I can only imagine the swallowing process is relatively close, just an assumption.
Well here is a video of a chameleon eating a lizard, a prey seemingly too large to be safe. Handled it fine.
http://youtu.be/18rQjjN7T9c

 

[Chameleon Creator]

And no, I am not at all condoning this, just an observation.

 

[symphonica]

Yes, they can choke, and can even choke to death, literally.

 

[Carlton]

I've heard much debate about whether chameleons can choke or not.. I've heard a lot of people say not to feed them insects too large or too long because they will be a choking hazard.
Well like snakes they are reptiles, and snakes seem to swallow much larger prey, I can only imagine the swallowing process is relatively close, just an assumption.
Well here is a video of a chameleon eating a lizard, a prey seemingly too large to be safe. Handled it fine.
http://youtu.be/18rQjjN7T9c

Snakes can swallow large whole prey for several reasons. Their hinged jaws permit big items past the skull, the super elastic muscles in the esophagus and their basic body shape help too. A major difference is that snakes can extend their glottis outside the mouth so they don't suffocate during a long swallow. Chams can't do that. Also, a very large prey item could simply get stuck in a cham's throat because of shells, spines, or large hardened stiff legs. Even if it did get down to the stomach it could injure the tissue of the esophagus along the way. Larger prey is harder to digest and contains less overall nutrition than the same weight of smaller individual insects (so I've read).

 

[Chameleon Creator]

Snakes can swallow large whole prey for several reasons. Their hinged jaws permit big items past the skull, the super elastic muscles in the esophagus and their basic body shape help too. A major difference is that snakes can extend their glottis outside the mouth so they don't suffocate during a long swallow. Chams can't do that. Also, a very large prey item could simply get stuck in a cham's throat because of shells, spines, or large hardened stiff legs. Even if it did get down to the stomach it could injure the tissue of the esophagus along the way. Larger prey is harder to digest and contains less overall nutrition than the same weight of smaller individual insects (so I've read).

Interesting. Good to know that there are facts to back it up, what I've read so far have been speculations. Thank you