Why Snakes Eat Each Other
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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Some snakes eat other snakes - a behaviour called ophiophagy - as a survival strategy to reduce competition for food
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Factors like food scarcity, stress, and territorial disputes can also lead to snakes consuming members of their own species
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Certain snake species, like King Cobras and Eastern Kingsnakes, have evolved to prey on other snakes, including venomous ones
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Cape cobras have been documented eating rivals and even their own kin
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The ophiophagy strategy allows them to access a readily available food source and reduce competition for resources
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Some snakes, particularly in captivity or when facing food scarcity or stress, may resort to cannibalism, eating members of their own species
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Ophiophagy and cannibalism in snakes highlight the adaptability and specialised survival strategies of these reptiles
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Some researchers suggest that cannibalism in snakes could be related to sexual competition, with males potentially eating females or rivals
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