Snakes are generally solitary creatures that prefer to avoid interaction. Conflict between individuals does occur, contradicting the common perception of them as purely isolated animals. Snakes engage in aggressive behaviors, including combat, for specific, high-value reasons. This fighting is a structured, specialized behavior observed across many species, from tiny colubrids to large venomous snakes.
Primary Motivations for Aggression
The overwhelming majority of intraspecific aggression in snakes centers on competition for reproductive rights. Male snakes engage in ritualized combat to establish dominance and secure access to a receptive female in the area. This competition is a powerful evolutionary driver, allowing the physically superior male to pass on its genes without the high cost of a lethal fight.
True territorial defense, where a snake guards a fixed area, is rare among snake species. It occurs when a resource is highly localized and worth defending. For instance, female Taiwanese kukrisnakes defend concentrated food resources, specifically clutches of sea turtle eggs, from rivals. Male small-eyed snakes may also exhibit territoriality over prime basking rocks that attract females, making the defense of this limited resource reproductively beneficial.
The Unique Nature of Male Combat Rituals
The most well-known form of snake combat is the male-male ritual, often mistaken for mating due to the intertwining bodies. This contest, sometimes called “plaiting combat,” involves two males raising the front portions of their bodies vertically off the ground. They wrap around each other, wrestling in a display of strength and stamina that can last for several minutes or up to half an hour.
The objective of this elaborate, non-lethal struggle is to physically overpower the rival and force his head to the ground. The snake that successfully pins the other’s head down is considered the victor and earns the right to court the female. This combat is ritualized to prevent serious injury; even highly venomous species, such as the black mamba and king cobra, refrain from using their fangs or venom.
This restraint is an evolutionary trade-off, as using venom or inflicting a bite would risk serious injury or death to both combatants. This is counterproductive to the goal of reproduction. The victor is determined by physical strength and endurance, not by lethality, allowing the losing male to retreat and survive to compete again. Although rare exceptions exist, the rule across most species is that male combat is a wrestling match for dominance.
When Snakes Fight Other Species
Conflict between a snake and another species is generally not a ritualized fight but a defensive or predatory encounter. When a snake is threatened by a predator, its response centers on self-preservation. This defensive behavior includes threat displays such as hissing, body flattening, and rapid tail vibrations.
Many snakes will first attempt to flee, but if cornered, they may resort to striking or biting. Non-venomous species may strike with a closed mouth or emit foul-smelling musk from their cloacal glands to deter a threat. Venomous snakes reserve their venom primarily for subduing prey, but they will use a venomous bite in self-defense against a perceived threat.