Snakes have a fearsome image in our minds because of their venom, but what happens when one snake becomes another snake’s prey?
When it comes to hunting down prey in the wild, some snakes have developed an almost fictional ability to hunt and eat other snakes, including species that can deliver potentially fatal bites. This behaviour, known as ophiophagy, is an adapted and specialized feeding habit in several snake species.
While some of these smart species are on the constant lookout for other snakes, others depend on their size, speed, how much they can constrict their prey, or even have developed natural resistance to certain venoms to survive encounters with potentially lethal opponents.
However, not every snake-eating species specialises in hunting venomous snakes. Similarly, resistance to venom does not make a snake completely immune to every toxin or bite.
But what makes these encounters interesting are not simply battles between two dangerous animals. They are also an important part of the food web, impacting snake populations and the balance of ecosystems.
Here are five snakes that eat other venomous snakes:Photos: Canva
