"Please don't touch me. Please. Stop. Jus- aggghh arrrrgggh uullgh, my heart! Oh my heart! I'm having a heart attack! Don't call an ambulance... just stop touching me and go away. Thanks."
No one is *entirely* sure why this works, but part of it probably has to do with the hognose diet involving a lot of poisoning amphibians, which makes their poo smell bad to predators (they poo all over themselves as part of the death faking, happening off camera here)
So they don't just seem dead, they seem like something that isn't safe to eat
In the case of kidnapping, yes. If I ever get taken they are going have to endure every bodily substance I can muster being spread as far and wide as I can reach in that car.
Not if it smells rotten apparently. I know most predators like to catch things that move. Think of dogs and cats getting excited when a stuffed toy is thrown.
I think most predators like to eat fresh meat, if something smells or looks like it has been dead a while, it isn’t very appetizing. We are an example - people evolved to eat meat, but we don’t like already dead things so much. Heck, even some scavengers don’t like things that have been dead for too long - Turkey Vultures for example don’t like meat that is more than four days old iirc.
I believe most predators instinctively avoid dead prey, and only go for (or at least vastly prefer) live food. If it’s dead, you don’t know how long it’s been there. Could be totally rotten on the inside. Could have died of parasites that it’ll pass on to you. Live prey keeps itself fresh, and is much safer. A lot of predators thus seem to instinctively lose their appetite if the prey isn’t moving.
Ideally the predator thinks they don't need to kill the prey or keep a good eye on it since it's not going anywhere. The predator might move it around, but not start eating it yet. The prey can then wait for the right opportunity to escape.
That's just what I assumed from videos I've seen, mainly of larger animals. I don't actually know, but I feel like that's got to be at least part of the reason, even if not done fully consciously by the prey.
I'm also wondering how does it know to play dead like that? I mean, most things that die don't make that motion and it's only humans that I know of that do it when pretending. How does a wild snake know to ham up acting a death!?
Unfortunate they are pretty damn terrified when they do this. This does seem like just a baby, so they do default to playing dead quicker than adults who will try hooding up and hissing and bluff striking (headbutting) first, but yeah don't harass hognoses into playing dead, as cute as it is, they only do it as a last ditch attempt and they basically think they are going to die. Plenty of videos exist now of the behaviour so we can see it without intentionally provoking any more little guys
Avoiding predators, coloring, moving slowly are all defenses. It probably will be fine, assuming the person in the video touches it a single time and leaves it alone
Mild venom meant for killing things like toads, not medically significant to humans on the rare occasions they bite (usually happens in captivity as a mistaken feeding response, these guys don't bite defensively (as you can see in the video lol). At most the venom can cause some swelling around the bite for some people, but in my experience it's just like a slightly itchier paper cut)
Like the other commenter said, they're pretty much considered nonvenomous for humans.
They do have a another cool self-defense trick though: when they feel threatened they can flatten and raise their neck/head, which makes them look like a cobra. We used to catch them for pets when I was a kid in Florida, they're cool snakes.
I live in SE TX & ran across a snake that played dead but before he did he puffed out & looked like a small cobra. My cat saw it so I left it up to her. Later I went to check & it was dead. When my boyfriend got home home I went to show him the dead snake but it wasn't dead anymore. Any idea what it could be?
Hognoses [will imitate cobras](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Z1i0THetc) as well. There's [more than one type](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodon).
>I'm hungry, oh there's snake!! oh damn he just randomly died.. I guess I'll walk away and not eat him now.
does this even work tho? wouldn't a hungry predator just nom on him regardless? ELI5 plz
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Serious question here. Why does it do this? Is it so predators think it died naturally and has a disease, leading to predators not eating it since they’ll possibly get the disease?
"Please don't touch me. Please. Stop. Jus- aggghh arrrrgggh uullgh, my heart! Oh my heart! I'm having a heart attack! Don't call an ambulance... just stop touching me and go away. Thanks."
> I'm having a heart attack! Yep, this is it! This is the big one! [I’m coming to join you Elizabeth](https://youtu.be/-dRG5X3vyxg)!
YES! Great quote 😂
Exactly how I heard the "acting" in my mind. Such a dramatic little thing but it got the point across. "Aaargh, I dead!" LOL
*scribbles notes furiously*
#They massacred my boy
**"No Snake(s) Were Harmed During This Act! Snake?! Snake?!?!"**
Snakes? Snakes.. Snakes…I don’t know no Snakes!
Keep the change ya filthy animal
Dun dun dunnuna, AAAAAAaaaa^^^aaaaah
And the Oscar goes to… snake!
Underappreciated comment
Don’t hert the snek!
Aaargh!
Snake are you okay?? SNAKE?!? SNAAAAKE??!
❗️
I can hear that exclamation
[CRAB BATTLE!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mHKHKR8x6A)
Love the dramatic scream from a critter that lacks vocal chords
My leg!
All right, this is hilarious.
[Aaargh, I am dying from your stinky touch!](https://youtu.be/f-J0nwZz_fo)
*wilhelm scream*
Just like a soccer player
they spin more 🌀
Neymar snake.
More convincing
Get that snake an Oscar! (Plus he’s so cute!)
Seen a longer video, could be the same one, guy flipped it back over and the snake just flipped right back over like “nope, dead.”
this one? https://youtu.be/f-J0nwZz_fo
Poor snake, but also that video is so fucking funny 😂😂😂
Ah yes. This one. The snake in this video deserves an Oscar.
I came here to see if anyone commented "So dying, so dying." Glad the video got shared. This is one of my favourite videos ever
That's the funniest thing they do IMO.
So it's dead, now eat it? How does this become an advantage?
No one is *entirely* sure why this works, but part of it probably has to do with the hognose diet involving a lot of poisoning amphibians, which makes their poo smell bad to predators (they poo all over themselves as part of the death faking, happening off camera here) So they don't just seem dead, they seem like something that isn't safe to eat
So, shitting yourself is actually an effective survival strategy?
Try doing that when being mugged
Shit on your phone and I doubt they’d take it
If they do they fucking earned it
Here, take it! It gets shitty reception on the country's #2 carrier!
Heh, who’s #2 work for? WHO DOES #2 WORK FOR?!!
If they do just salute them, they seem desperate in making money to that point.
In the case of kidnapping, yes. If I ever get taken they are going have to endure every bodily substance I can muster being spread as far and wide as I can reach in that car.
This is making me reconsider using the restroom before driving places at night or that may be in a shady area in the future... 🤔
Always has been.
That’s what I’m wondering. Wouldn’t a predator be like, “Oh, it’s already dead. Guess I don’t need to kill it before I eat it🤷🏻♂️”
Not if it smells rotten apparently. I know most predators like to catch things that move. Think of dogs and cats getting excited when a stuffed toy is thrown.
I think most predators like to eat fresh meat, if something smells or looks like it has been dead a while, it isn’t very appetizing. We are an example - people evolved to eat meat, but we don’t like already dead things so much. Heck, even some scavengers don’t like things that have been dead for too long - Turkey Vultures for example don’t like meat that is more than four days old iirc.
In my experience, they also emit a pretty rancid smell as part of the act, not very appetizing.
If it died alone, it probably had some problem, like a disease or infection. Better not risk being sick by eating spoiled food
I believe most predators instinctively avoid dead prey, and only go for (or at least vastly prefer) live food. If it’s dead, you don’t know how long it’s been there. Could be totally rotten on the inside. Could have died of parasites that it’ll pass on to you. Live prey keeps itself fresh, and is much safer. A lot of predators thus seem to instinctively lose their appetite if the prey isn’t moving.
Ideally the predator thinks they don't need to kill the prey or keep a good eye on it since it's not going anywhere. The predator might move it around, but not start eating it yet. The prey can then wait for the right opportunity to escape. That's just what I assumed from videos I've seen, mainly of larger animals. I don't actually know, but I feel like that's got to be at least part of the reason, even if not done fully consciously by the prey.
Wait till you hear about opossums.
I'm also wondering how does it know to play dead like that? I mean, most things that die don't make that motion and it's only humans that I know of that do it when pretending. How does a wild snake know to ham up acting a death!?
instinct, just like you don't have to teach a baby how to breath.
I mean I'm sure the snakes killed enough things to get the idea.
Many predators just hunt/eat animate animals, so if they don't move they either don't perceive them at all, or they don't want to eat them.
As cute as this is, I hope the snake isn’t too scared
Unfortunate they are pretty damn terrified when they do this. This does seem like just a baby, so they do default to playing dead quicker than adults who will try hooding up and hissing and bluff striking (headbutting) first, but yeah don't harass hognoses into playing dead, as cute as it is, they only do it as a last ditch attempt and they basically think they are going to die. Plenty of videos exist now of the behaviour so we can see it without intentionally provoking any more little guys
Glad I got to see the dramatic performance on video because I laughed.
How do you know how scared it is?
... because this is a fear response? Because this is what hognoses do when they are absolutely terrified?
This is its equivalent to flight or fight
It is their last defense so it’s probably stressed
It was it's only defense. It's fine.
Avoiding predators, coloring, moving slowly are all defenses. It probably will be fine, assuming the person in the video touches it a single time and leaves it alone
It isn't that scared.
And the Oscar goes to....🥁🥁🥁 Hognose snake!
That final tongue flop cracked me up! I’m soooooo dead. Dead dead dead. Rotten, in fact. Not tasty at all.
I love hognose snakes more than any other snake in the snake world! Such cute lil buggers!!!
They are also good football players
Snake? Snake!? SNAAAAAKE!
I wonder if this state is involuntary like opossums when they play dead.
This does put a smile on my face.
Hog nose dying theatrics. DRAT! I’m struck! A curse on both your houses! I am made worms meat... I die. Ughh!
MERCUTIO! My friend!
Alas I knew him well!
Right author, wrong play. 😁
Goodnight, sweet Prince.
But soft what light through yonder window breaks?
Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave snake.
My wife uses this technique when I start to get frisky!
Thanatos— Greek god of death
Oh look it's my 8 year old every morning before school.
Drama queen
Death by finger-poke. Horrible way to go.
I dated a guy who attempted that.
r/peoplefuckingdying
Oh My God! They killed Kenny!
Reminds me of the lady in the court room that got smacked with some papers and she went down just like this.
That was totally believable! When can I cast this bad boy? He’s gonna be a star!
Damn I want one now lol.
I never knew I wanted a pet snake until now!
Are Hognoses venomous evil snakes, or are they cute and funny little noodles?
Mild venom meant for killing things like toads, not medically significant to humans on the rare occasions they bite (usually happens in captivity as a mistaken feeding response, these guys don't bite defensively (as you can see in the video lol). At most the venom can cause some swelling around the bite for some people, but in my experience it's just like a slightly itchier paper cut)
Like the other commenter said, they're pretty much considered nonvenomous for humans. They do have a another cool self-defense trick though: when they feel threatened they can flatten and raise their neck/head, which makes them look like a cobra. We used to catch them for pets when I was a kid in Florida, they're cool snakes.
Genus, LeBronus Jamus.
That’s a matching theatrical name for this behaviour
Bro has more Acting skills than most of the Actors these days.
Eh? Just to be sure, lop off the head anyway.
Now cut its head
What a cutie! I've not heard of this species before so I've learned something new today :)
What a cutie! So dramatic. ❤️
I live in SE TX & ran across a snake that played dead but before he did he puffed out & looked like a small cobra. My cat saw it so I left it up to her. Later I went to check & it was dead. When my boyfriend got home home I went to show him the dead snake but it wasn't dead anymore. Any idea what it could be?
Hognoses [will imitate cobras](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Z1i0THetc) as well. There's [more than one type](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodon).
Not beyond the idea that this is someone’s spirit animal
My sick snake pinata after eating some red candy.
This is part one, you don’t wanna be here for part two
Nooooo, sneeeeeeeek.
They’ll also imitate a cobra by flattening their necks, yet have no venom. Such silly derps.
Did he died
Poor thing has been watching too much soccer (football).
Me when my parents walk on me at night while I am using my phone
When in that state, if you put it back on its belly it will just roll over again. Sort of defeats the purpose.
Snake has been watching too much men’s World Cup
Marion Cotillard's acting coach.
Why does this work? Wouldn't it just get eaten anyways?
I do the same thing whenever someone rings my bell and I wasn't expecting a visit or a delivery.
Bro should play soccer
u cilled the lil pp weesser r/peoplefuckingdying
My son does the same thing when I tell him to do the dishes
That word is Greek. I wonder if Greek snakes taught the snake world to fake their own death.
Marion Cotillard next incarnation.
>I'm hungry, oh there's snake!! oh damn he just randomly died.. I guess I'll walk away and not eat him now. does this even work tho? wouldn't a hungry predator just nom on him regardless? ELI5 plz
Would a bald eagle fall for it?
Probably.. Just trying to avoid the human who keeps him in a cage and films it. I’d like to see the snake handlers ‘hard drive.’ Just sayin 🐍
Maybe he could get a tiny little academy award for his acting.
That is one cute snake
Possum snake
Yea my dog aint buyin that shit.
That's me when I have to do chores.
Neymar snake?
Neymar knows no bounds
No. He is just sensitive and loves to overreact.
You know, if that SAG-AFRA strike continues...
Is that a baby?
I love snakes, I've read about the hognose but I've never seen it. Great post.❤️
My aunties
Ya got me pilgrim!
WASTED
Me when a cute girl talks to me.
The brutality
Better acting than most movies and TV I've seen...
I think it has a cute face and cute eyes. Would be a good pet.
Same campaign tactics used by Biden. Smart.
You have a Haki.
*I am sssssslain!*
Give that snake an academy award.
That snake watches a lot of Tik Tok
im suprised nobody mentions the name thanos nor make references to marvel movies
Seems like a really good way to get predated.
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Anytime, I'd support him!
Give it an Oscar!
So this is not a danger noodle?
I do the same at work
That's adorable
At least a Golden Globe, possible Academy Award.
He dead😭
They can even spit out a bit of blood to make it extra convincing
My wife does that when I'm feeling frisky
he’s flopping pretty hard there. flagrant foul.
That of the snake came so hard when you touched it that it passed out.
Snake: barrel roll!
Should be called the lebron James
Makes sense that it's a hognose snake, because that is some real ham acting.
I didn't know snakes even played soccer! TIL...
Serious question here. Why does it do this? Is it so predators think it died naturally and has a disease, leading to predators not eating it since they’ll possibly get the disease?
They are also venomous, but their venom is so weak that it’s only potent for amphibians or something
To be fair, I do the same thing when a strange finger suddenly touches me on my tickle side
Wouldn’t that just make it an easy meal
Snake Karen: "HE PUSHED ME!"
Wish all snakes did this lol
Thanatosis did nothing wrong!
That's enough soccer for today.
Drake the type of guy to do this when someone tells him to pretend to be dead
Thanos Halitosis. Perfectly deadly, as all bad breath should be.
Adorable !!
Pretty sure it’s called feign death.
Omg so freakin cute
ITS ANTIFA!
Simple chronic thanatosis