Snake eating crab 2

Dr. Bruce Jayne of the University of Cincinnati (Ohio, USA) shot this infra-red video of a captive snake (Fordonia leucobalia) eating a crab (Episesarma versicolor) that was very near the upper size limit of what it could sallow. From start to finish this epic battle took nearly a half an hour! The snake had a body (SVL) length of 59 cm and was 152 grams and the crab was 15.2 grams. This individual was captured and observed in Singapore at the National University of Singapore. This species of snake occurs on the intertidal mud flats and muddy surfaces of the mangroves along the coasts of many Southeast Asian countries where crabs are an abundant resource. This snake uses a unique behavior of pinning the crab with its chin, neck and body before it bites the crab, whereas other snakes capture prey using an open-mouth strike, during which the needle sharp teeth snag soft-bodied prey.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• snake
• eating
• crab
• feeding
• mangrove
• Singapore
• animal
• behavior

[ngsuching]

Amazing... Limbless creature subduing an 8 legged crab, claws and all...

[charlesparenteau]

very very interesting !!! amazing snake.

[curtisdonthurtus]

THATS A CREEPY LOOKING SNAKE