Two snakes instead of one meant more action, venom, and impact.
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The snakes held Lourens’ attention as they interacted, lifting their upper bodies at intervals to display their strength and prowess.
An Incredible Showdown Of Venom And Fury
The puff adder is one of the most potent snakes in the world. As such, its presence can be a significant threat. These two snakes presented double the threat, however, their aggression was directed towards one another.
They were caught in a brawl that resembled a dance, as they twisted and turned around each other.
A Display Of Formidable Prowess
Puff adders are extremely formidable snakes. They are highly venomous, as one of the world’s deadliest snakes. Their venom is a mixture of enzymes (cytotoxins and neurotoxins).
The neurotoxins can affect the nervous system, in worst-case scenarios, cause respiratory distress and paralysis, while the cytotoxins can cause severe tissue damage.
Their ambush strategies are just as concerning as their venom. These snakes rely on their ability to camouflage well, and will wait in hiding for unsuspecting prey.
In this instance, the prey was not the target of the snakes’ attention. Rather, these snakes were determined to outdo each other.
A Fight To Establish Dominance
Puff adders might fight one another to show dominance and win the right to mate with a nearby female snake.
Fighting could also be for territory. It’s all about showing dominance, and subduing the competing snake.
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Whatever the reason for these puff adders’ aggression, they definitely weren’t about to relent before one of them came out a champion.
The exact term for this interaction between two male snakes is ‘male combat’. In these confrontations, the male snakes will wrap around one another and then lift their upper bodies in an attempt to subdue each other.
Puff adders usually grow to around 80 to 120 centimetres in length.
Known as Africa’s most venomous snake, they are present in every African country south of the Sahara.
They also live in varied habitats, from grassy plains, woodlands, to savannahs.
They have large fangs which can even penetrate soft leather. Add this to their venom and ambush tactics, they are definitely not the creature you want to come across while out on a game trail.
In spite of the snake’s ardent wrestling, their skirmish didn’t end with any of the reptiles biting one another.
Interestingly, if a snake is bitten by another venomous snake of the same species, the venom will not affect it. It will only be affected if it is bitten by a venomous snake of another species.
The unusual moves of two snakes fighting often lead witnesses to assume that the snakes are involved in some sort of mating ritual. Here, Lourens recognised that they were fighting.
Somewhere nearby, hidden from the camera and out of view, there could have been a female snake, the reason for the outlandish showdown.