How Do Snakes Fight One Another? (Video)

Pretty much all animals fight in some form or another. When competing over resources like food, territory or mates, basic communication sometimes isn't enough to get the point of ownership across. If it comes down to protecting a valuable resource, many species are prepared to fight to the death to stake their claim (many of these resources mean the difference between life and death). Some fights are incredibly viscous, with individuals inflicting catastrophic wounds upon each other; others are more about intimidation or flaunting power, with less physical contact. But what about the snakes? How do these animals fight off other snakes to protect their valuable resources?

Let's look at a snake with one of the most fearsome reputations in the world: the black mamba (pictured above). The black mamba is an elapid, a member of the cobra family, and is famous for its incredible speed; it is the fastest land snake in the world. Combining its sheer speed, large size (second longest venomous snake in the world) and deadly bite, the black mamba is a dangerously fearsome creature. Now imagine an angry black mamba has run into a rival mamba, and for whatever reason this snake is extremely unhappy about the presence of the other snake. When you imagine these animals fighting, you probably imagine a fearsome duel with both snakes striking fiercely at one another, trying to inflict deadly venomous bites to kill their opponent. Surely such a dangerous animal must engage in some pretty heavy combat, right?

Well first off, snakes very rarely actually fight; they are not territorial animals so they do not fight for hunting grounds or space. The only reason snakes generally engage in combat is over females; if there are multiple males in an area with only one female, and both snakes are unwilling to back down, a fight will likely ensue. However, when combat begins, snakes are actually very careful not to bite or injure one another; their fight actually becomes more like an elaborate, elegant dance. They essentially engage in a full body wrestling match, with each male trying to rise above the other and topple them. These "fights" are so gentle that people often confuse combat with courtship! Check out the video below of two male mambas fighting on a golf course in South Africa.

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Fights between nonvenomous snakes do tend to be more violent, with opponents biting one another as they attempt to pin them, but even these fights are nonlethal. Despite their formidable reputation and even dangerous weaponry, snakes have perfected a means of dominating opponents that allows them to conquer important resources without the fear of injury or death. The worst case scenario for a loser is that they must go and find a mate elsewhere, but at least they will live to see another day. It's just another example of how snakes are far more beautiful and charismatic than most people give them credit for!

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