A brown snake may appear harmless enough, but it is capable of injecting venom with its bite. When scared, the head may flatten into a triangular shape for added protection – so be aware before you step on one!
The eastern brown snake, also known as the eastern brown snake, is Australia’s second most venomous land snake and believed to be responsible for most snake bite fatalities within Australia.
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What’s the deal?
In southern Australia, it’s a commonly held myth that if you see a black snake, chances are it won’t bite anyone else. This belief stems from observations of black snakes eating brown snakes; however, there is no scientific proof to back this up.
But the narrative appears to be shifting. A recent photo taken by a passer-by in Griffith, New South Wales, appears to show a dead brown snake being caught between the jaws of a black snake.
Geoff Mitchell took this photograph around three weeks ago after spotting snakes along a roadside. It left many in disbelief.
Eastern brown snakes are native to Australia and a venomous species widely distributed throughout the country. They tend to be diurnal, usually visible during the day but also active at night; predators of lizards, birds and small mammals. Unfortunately, eastern brown snakes can be invasive in certain areas causing damage to electrical lines as well as pest problems in gardens.
The myth
Snakes possess highly developed senses that enable them to detect odors in their environment and use this knowledge for hunting or avoiding enemies.
They use their tongues to absorb odors from the air and their environment, then send those scents to special sacs on the roof of their mouth known as Jacobson’s organs.
Snakes use their bodies to detect threats such as predators or commotion, and they use their eyes to spot other snakes and determine where they’re moving.
At day, this snake forages in trees or on the ground for small mammals, birds and their eggs, lizards and other snakes. At night it also searches for frogs around windows or garden sheds.
Though brown snakes are highly toxic, many people mistakenly believe they can consume black snakes. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case.
The video
An incredible video has been captured of a brown snake eating a black snake. It shows the venomous predator poking its head out of a smaller snake while flickering its tongue.
This footage was captured in Myponga, South Australia and shared online. A passer-by captured the moment the small animal stuck its head into a larger predator’s mouth before being swallowed whole.
Some species, like frogs and fish, exhibit this behavior naturally. However, it’s uncommon to witness these animals hunting and attacking each other.
In this video, it appears that the red-bellied black snake took on and consumed an eastern brown snake.
Both species are highly toxic and capable of preying on each other. Despite this, these two live peacefully side by side without any issues.
The truth
A photo that appears to show a brown snake poking its head out of an otherwise black snake in New South Wales has caused much consternation. But according to one snake catcher, this type of incident is nothing more than an everyday occurrence.
One common misconception about snakes is that they are aggressive. Unfortunately, defensive behaviors are often misinterpreted and mischaracterized as aggression. In reality, snakes tend to be shy animals who avoid contact with humans whenever possible.
They can detect light, so they can retract their tails under shelter to escape predators. Snakes like the American coachwhip also improve their eyesight when faced with danger by constricting blood vessels in a transparent scale covering their eye.
The red-bellied black snake is a venomous species, though much less dangerous than its eastern brown snake counterpart. While its bites can be painful and life-threatening, no recorded deaths from snakebites have occurred to date.
