By Sakshi Sah
Published Mar 18, 2025

Hindustan Times
Trending

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Fascinating facts about why snakes eat each other

According to BBC, around 4,000 snake species eat different foods, from mammals and birds to insects and fish.

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Many snakes, like Europe’s smooth snake, will eat other snakes if given the chance.

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Some snakes, like North American kingsnakes and Asia’s king cobra, also eat other snakes.

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Sometimes, captive snakes swallow their own tails, possibly mistaking them for prey.

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This could be an extreme form of cannibalism, but scientists don’t know if it happens in nature.

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Male Cape cobras have been seen eating other males, possibly to remove competition.

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In France, male Montpellier snakes have been seen eating females outside of mating season.

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Snake cannibalism is a fascinating but harsh reality in the wild.

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