These are unusual shots: a small snake and a centipede die in the midst of their agony. This small black-headed snake was found by hikers in a national park in the Florida Keys. Park rangers send the find to researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History. And they are surprised: The snake is the very rare species Tantilla oolitica – the snake was last sighted four years ago, according to the museum. But how did the animal die? Normally, snakes can eat prey that is many times their body diameter. Snakes can unhook their jaws and thus enlarge their mouths. With the help of a 3D model of the find, the scientists were able to carry out a digital autopsy of the reptile and insect. This gives the scientists clues as to what could have led to the death of the small snake. Injuries can be seen inside the animal: the centipede probably injured the snake in its agony. To what extent this species is protected against the poison of its prey is still unclear. However, the insect also injured parts of the snake’s airway, causing it to suffocate. These American black-headed snakes are non-venomous and typically don’t exceed eight inches in size. The species has been on the UUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2007. Above all, the growing cities and the associated decline in their living space are the reason for this. It is the first time that a 3D model of this type has been produced. So far there have not been any observations of the feeding behavior of this snake species. The museum’s scientists have made their data available to the public so that other herpetologists can gain insight into the behavior of black-faced snakes.
Death Struggle: Rare snake wrestles with centipede – and dies
Watch the video: Death throes – rare snake wrestles with centipede and dies.