Can a squirrel escape from its predator?
We often say “quick as a squirrel” to describe something very fast, yet the squirrel below couldn’t escape the death that silently approached from behind. The predator was a red-tailed snake (scientific name: Gonyosoma oxycephalum).
The snake approached from behind, making it difficult for the squirrel to react in time.
The red-tailed snake is non-venomous, so it kills its prey using its muscular strength, similar to a python. The snake crept up from behind, leaving the squirrel with little chance to react, ultimately tightening its grip and turning the squirrel into a meal.
Red-tailed snakes and red-tailed green snakes are two species of snakes with green bodies that live in tall trees; however, the red-tailed green snake is extremely dangerous due to its lethal venom.
The two species can be quickly distinguished by the shape of their heads and eyes (the red-tailed green snake has a triangular head with vertically slit pupils like a cat, while the red-tailed snake has an elongated head and round pupils).
