Like a skilled stage actor, the peculiar snake species rolls in filth, writhes about, then lies still, opens its mouth, sticks out its tongue, and pretends to vomit blood… all to feign death.
A recent study published in the scientific journal Biology Letters has described the death-feigning ability of the striped water snake (Natrix tessellata), a non-venomous water snake found across many countries in Asia, Europe, and North Africa.
Dr. Vukasin Bjelica from the University of Belgrade and his colleagues observed these striped water snakes living on Golem Grad, an island in a lake in North Macedonia, and noted their remarkable acting skills.
Most snake species either flee or fight when threatened. However, this peculiar snake has a unique response: it immediately… pretends to be dead.
The striped water snake on Golem Grad has a unique death-feigning ability – (Photo: BIOLOGY LETTERS)
The research team led by Dr. Bjelica captured and tested 263 snakes, grasping their midsections to provoke various defensive behaviors.
While carefully ensuring that the snakes were not harmed, they held them gently, squeezed them lightly, and stretched them out on the ground, mimicking the actions of a predator hesitating to consume its prey.
According to The New York Times, this approach allowed them to document a series of astonishing behaviors that were sometimes amusing.
Nearly half of the snakes would roll over to cover themselves with a pungent mixture of musk and feces. Many would begin to writhe, lie motionless, open their mouths, and stick out their tongues…
For added drama, some even pretended to bleed from their mouths and foamed at the mouth…
The authors noted that this is a high-risk but effective strategy when cornered with no escape route.
Some predators are averse to decaying corpses and feel disgusted by an animal that smells, writhes, or appears to be dead.
If not, it presents a golden opportunity for the snake, as a predator that believes the prey is dead, even if reluctant to give up, may become distracted, loosen its grip, and provide the snake a chance to escape.
Various species in the animal kingdom feign death when threatened by predators, including insects, fish, amphibians, and even some mammals.
The authors also pointed out that the striped water snakes on Golem Grad represent an unusual population, as they are often preyed upon by many bird species.
Thus, it remains unclear whether striped water snakes in other locations possess such theatrical death-feigning abilities. Further research is needed across different populations to clarify the unique capabilities of this snake species.
