Snakes are animals that have been catching people’s attention and inspiring their imaginations for hundreds of years. They are generally portrayed as dangerous predators who frighten their prey. But what many people don’t know is that snakes can also eat other snakes. In fact, some snake species hunt and eat other snakes. This is both interesting and scary, and it makes people wonder a lot about what snakes eat other snakes.
These are snakes that eat other snakes:
- King Cobra
- King Brown Snake
- Common Kingsnake
- Corn Snake
- Mussurana Snake
- Garter Snake
- Eastern Indigo Snake
- Blue Malaysian Coral Snake
- Banded Krait
- Coachwhip
- Cottonmouth
- Banded Wolf Snakes
- Pit Vipers
- Black Racers
- Angolan Cobra
- Milk Snake
- Copperheads
In this article, we’ll look at the world of snake-on-snake predation. We’ll look at why some snakes eat other snakes, how they catch and kill their prey, and the fascinating adaptations that help them thrive in this unique niche.
What Is Ophiophagy?
According to J Venom Anim Toxins, Incl Trop Dis ophiophagy is a type of feeding or eating that is unique to animals that hunt and eat snakes. It comes from the Greek words “ophis,” which means “snake,” and “phagein,” which means “to eat.” Most people think of snakes as slimy and dangerous, but many animals eat them because they taste good. Many animals that eat other animals seem to be immune to some snake venoms. Scientists have found that opossums from Virginia are the most resistant to snake venom.
Ophiophagy Behaviour In Snakes
King Cobra
| Scientific Name | Ophiophagus hannah |
| Range | Found in forests across India and Southeast Asia |
| Venom Toxicity | Highly venomous, predominantly neurotoxic and can be deadly to humans |
| Conservation Status | Highly venomous, predominantly neurotoxic, and can be deadly to humans |
King cobras are among the smartest snakes on the earth. They are strategic predators whose methods vary with the nature of their prey and the situations under which they are hunting. They adapt and identify their handlers.
King cobras are the longest venomous snakes, about 18 feet long. They like streams, woodlands, bamboo thickets, and marshes. When food is scarce, these carnivorous predators will eat other snakes. King cobras eat Asian rat snakes, dhamans, and pythons. Indian cobras, kraits, vipers, and wolf snakes will also attract them.
King Brown Snake
| Scientific Name | Pseudechis australis |
| Range | Found in Australia, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions |
| Venom Toxicity | Highly venomous, primarily neurotoxic and can be fatal to humans |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
King brown snakes (mulga snakes) are found across Australia. The longest of these snakes is 11 feet long. They hunt opportunistically and quickly. They bite many times to stop their prey from fighting back.
King brown snakes consume birds, amphibians, small animals, and reptiles. They eat whip, brown, brown tree, southern shovel-nosed, Gould’s hooded, and crowned snakes. They’ll eat other king-brown snakes if needed.
Common Kingsnake
| Scientific Name | Lampropeltis getula |
| Range | Found in North America |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
Like the king cobra, the “king” part of their name comes from the fact that they like to eat other snakes. These North American snakes love venomous snakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. These snakes’ venom doesn’t hurt them. Therefore, they can eat freely.
Kingsnakes use the force of their constriction instead of venom to kill their victim. Kingsnakes hunt venomous snakes by biting their jaws to stop them from fighting. The kingsnake eats a victim snake’s head while it’s alive to asphyxiate it. The other snake will suffocate in the kingsnake’s neck. Kingsnakes eat frogs, tortoises, birds, eggs, and rodents.
Corn Snake
| Scientific Name | Pantherophis guttatus |
| Range | Found in southeastern and central United States |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
Corn snakes don’t eat corn, contrary to their name. Corn snakes are a popular pet in the United States due to their attractive appearance and calm nature. This is why they make suitable snake pets.
Corn snakes, also known as rat snakes, are a more appropriate moniker since they prey on rats and other rodents. Nevertheless, Corn Snakes will also eat other snakes, amphibians, small lizards, and bird eggs.
Mussurana Snake
| Scientific Name | Clelia clelia |
| Range | Found in Central and South America |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
Mussurana snakes are Colubrid snake-eaters. They are colorful when they are young, but when they grow up, they are brown, gray, or black. A species called Clelia clelia can be found from Central America to Argentina. They can reach 7 feet long. These snakes are immune to fer-de-lance poison, a rare trait. They hunt snakes, notably rattlesnakes.
Mussuranas use rear-fang hunting. They have upper jaw teeth and posterior fangs. They use opisthoglyphous teeth to hold snake prey by the head before devouring it. As a Mussurana eats a snake, it crushes it to fit into its small digestive system.
Garter Snake
| Scientific Name | Thamnophis sirtalis |
| Range | Found in North America |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
One of the more widespread snake species in the Americas is the Garter snake. They inhabit numerous ecosystems and feed on a wide array of foods. It may come as a surprise to learn that the typically tame Garter Snake can be an effective predator of its own kind. Garter Snakes eat a wide variety of animals, including other snakes, insects, earthworms, frogs, snails, crayfish, fish, and even fish eggs.
Eastern Indigo Snake
| Scientific Name | Drymarchon couperi |
| Range | Found in the southeastern United States |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Threatened |
The Eastern indigo snake is a long, black snake that lives in the southeastern United States. It is not venomous. Males reach 7–9 feet, while females are shorter.
They’re kingsnake-related Colubrid snakes. They hunt similarly to kingsnakes, but instead of constriction, they use speed and raw power to bring down their prey. They bite and suffocate prey after capturing them.
These snakes are adept at catching and eating deadly snakes. They eat rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. They may be able to control dangerous viper populations by preying on rattlesnakes due to their venom resistance. They eat snakes, turtles, primates, frogs, birds, lizards, and rodents.
Blue Malaysian Coral Snake
| Scientific Name | Calliophis bivirgatus |
| Range | Found in Southeast Asia |
| Venom Toxicity | Highly venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
Over 80 coral snake species exist. Most eat snakes occasionally, but the blue Malaysian coral snake eats only snakes. They have a red head, tail, belly, and dark blue back with lighter bands down the sides.
Blue coral snakes’ venom may kill the most ferocious snakes. They have the largest snake venom glands but little fangs. They exceed 25% of their length. Blue Malaysian coral snakes developed a fast-acting venom to kill bigger and more venomous snakes without getting bitten. Spastic paralysis freezes their dangerous prey once the venom affects all their nerves. They eat many snakes, including baby king cobras.
Banded Krait Snake
| Scientific Name | Bungarus fasciatus |
| Range | Found in Southeast Asia |
| Venom Toxicity | Highly venomous, primarily neurotoxic |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
The banded krait, like most other kraits, mostly eats other snakes. This venomous species lives in Southeast Asia and India. Its black and yellow crossbands, powerful ridge, and triangular body cross-section make it easy to spot.
They eat fish, frogs, skinks, snake eggs, and snakes, but snakes are their main food source. They like Sunbeam snakes, rainbow water snakes, red-tailed pipe snakes, Indo-Chinese rat snakes, Russel’s viper, cat snakes, and more. First, these snakes bite their prey to inject them with venom, and then they eat their heads first.
Coachwhip Snake
| Scientific Name | Masticophis flagellum |
| Range | Found in North America |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
Coachwhips are long, thin, non-venomous snakes that are common in South America. They are native to the Americas. They are black to dark brown and get lighter as they get closer to the tail. They have a pattern that looks like a braided whip. These snakes are always looking for food and can run up to 4 miles an hour in order to pursue.
Coachwhips don’t use venom or constriction to bring down their prey. Instead, they attack and grab their victims in their jaws. They eat their prey, whether it is alive or dead. Most of the time, they eat other snakes and lizards, but they also eat bugs, birds, eggs, and amphibians.
Cottonmouth Snake
| Scientific Name | Agkistrodon piscivorus |
| Range | Found in the southeastern United States |
| Venom Toxicity | Highly venomous, primarily hemotoxic and can be dangerous to humans |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
The cottonmouth is a venomous pit viper that is sometimes called a “water moccasin.” It lives in the southeast of the U.S. and spends most of its time in or near water. Their bodies are long, thick, and strong. These snakes can hunt just as well on land as in water. They either chase their prey or hide and wait for it to pass by, which is called “ambush.” These meat-eaters eat a wide range of foods, including fish, rodents, small mammals, amphibians, insects, and even other snakes. People have seen them eat other members of their own species.
Banded Wolf Snakes
| Scientific Name | Lycodon striatus |
| Range | Found in Southeast Asia |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
Southeast Asian Banded Wolf Snakes are colubrid snakes. They average 2 feet long and are brown or greyish-brown with dark bands. They specialize in eating blind snakes and worm snakes, which are small, underground snakes. They use smell and digging to find these prey items in their burrows.
They hunt other snakes stealthily and unexpectedly. They ambush their prey near termite mounds, logs, and rocks. They attack quickly and suffocate their prey. Unlike most snakes, Banded Wolf Snakes don’t have poison and kill their prey by squeezing them. Banded Wolf Snakes feed on small vertebrates like lizards, rodents, and other snakes at night.
Pit Viper Snake
| Scientific Name | Crotalinae (subfamily) |
| Range | Found worldwide |
| Venom Toxicity | Highly venomous, primarily hemotoxic, and can be dangerous to humans |
| Conservation Status | Varies depending on the species |
It is known that many types of pit vipers eat other snakes. Rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths are pit vipers. They live in North, South, Asia, and Africa.
Pit vipers are opportunistic predators that eat small mammals, birds, lizards, and other snakes. Rattlesnakes, for example, eat a lot of snakes. They hunt other snakes with their venom and strength. They strike quickly and accurately, injecting venom into their prey before it can escape. Pit vipers can find other snakes in the dark or dense vegetation using their sense of smell and heat-sensing organs.
Black Racer Snake
| Scientific Name | Coluber constrictor priapus |
| Range | Found in North America |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
Black racers hunt and eat snakes. They’re named for their fast ground speed, which helps them catch prey. They’ll use this speed for hunting, not attacking. Black racers eat other snakes and themselves.
Black racers must watch out for other black racers who may be stalking them due to their cannibalistic nature. Black racers devouring cottonmouths are shown above. Unlike black racers, cottonmouths are venomous. They don’t constrict, so they bite and suffocate victims.
Angolan Cobra
| Scientific Name | Naja angolensis |
| Range | Found in southern and eastern Africa |
| Venom Toxicity | Highly venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
The Angolan Cobra, eats other snakes as part of a varied diet. King Cobras aren’t even cobras, but they’re the most vicious snake eaters. The Angolan Cobra and other “true” cobras eat snakes when they can.
Angola and other southwestern African nations are its home. It eats tiny mammals, reptiles, and snakes it encounters. Not all cobras eat snakes.
Milk Snake
| Scientific Name | Lampropeltis triangulum |
| Range | Found in North America |
| Venom Toxicity | Non-venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
The Milk Snake, a type of king snake, feeds on other snakes in the same way that the more common king snake does. They are venomless predators that feed on a wide variety of tiny mammals, insects, and amphibians.
Milk snakes are most active at night in the summer, and you can locate them around structures like barns and chicken coops. They avoid people at all costs but are skilled predators.
Copperhead Snake
| Scientific Name | Agkistrodon contortrix |
| Range | Found in the eastern and central United State |
| Venom Toxicity | Moderately venomous |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo reports that copperheads will sometimes eat smaller snakes, despite the fact that this is not a common diet for copperheads. Depending on their ecology, snakes like copperheads and garter snakes are able to eat a wide variety of foods.
Copperheads eat snakes if they can, but they mostly consume rodents and amphibians. Copperheads are prey for both kingsnakes and cottonmouths.
FAQs
Why Do Snakes Eat Other Snakes?
There are many reasons why snakes eat other snakes. They do that when they’re hungry and can’t find food. In other cases, they may compete for the same resources or territory and thus must fight each other to choose a winner. Some snakes will only eat other snakes.
Can Snakes Taste Flavors?
Yes, snakes can taste the flavor. They have a special organ in their mouths called Jacobson’s organ that allows them to sense different chemicals in the air and on the ground. This lets them find food and stay away from danger.
Are All Snakes Cannibals?
No, not every snake eats other snakes. There are many animals that eat other animals. But snakes are usually thought of as an exception to this rule. They are a group of animals that rarely eat other snakes unless they are in a very difficult situation. Some snakes would rather eat bugs, mice, or other small animals.
Is Snake Cannibalism Common?
The behavior of cannibalism among snakes is not quite common, although it does take place occasionally. When there aren’t enough other food sources or when snakes are fighting over the same territory or resources, this is more likely to happen.
Is It True That Snakes Eat Their Own Eggs?
Yes, it’s true that some snakes will eat their own eggs. That might sound unusual, but this is actually a mechanism for the mother snake to get back some of the nutrients that she needed when she was laying the eggs. The eggs are a byproduct of the mother snake’s reproductive process.
Can snakes eat other venomous snakes?
Yes, certain snakes can eat venomous snakes because they are immune. However, this is not the case for all species of snakes, and those that are not immune to the effects of venom should avoid attempting to eat venomous prey.
Is Snake Cannibalism Harmful To The Ecosystem?
Snake cannibalism is normal and harmless. But if it happens too often, it can change the number of snakes in a certain species’ population. The key is to establish a healthy equilibrium between destructive hunting and responsible resource management.
Conclusion
Although the King Cobra and the Massurana have specialized diets that consist almost entirely of snakes, most snakes avoid eating them. Some snakes are ophiophagic because their food consists almost entirely of other snakes. Although ophiophagy is common among snakes, many species are not picky eaters and will eat a wide variety of prey.
In fact, some of these snakes engage in cannibalism by feeding on members of their own species. But, snakes aren’t the only creatures capable of ophiophagy; other animals and even people occasionally partake in this practice.
References
Tan CH, Bourges A, Tan KY. King Cobra and snakebite envenomation: on the natural history, human-snake relationship and medical importance of Ophiophagus hannah. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2022 Jan 5;27:e20210051. doi: 10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0051. PMID: 35069710; PMCID: PMC8733962.
