If you are asked which sound you associate with a snake, you’ll probably suggest a hiss. Perhaps even the sound of a rattle? Very few people would say a fart! Yet, there is a species of snake that can break wind on demand, producing a sound suspiciously similar to a fart. Here we will investigate the science behind snake farts and find out when they produce them.
Chihuahuan Hook-Nosed Snake
The Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake, also known as the Western hooknose snake or the fart snake, is found throughout the southwestern United States and into northern Mexico. They like to live in deserts and are often found around certain types of plants, including the agave plant. This is not a large snake; they typically grow to about 11 inches in length, but can reach 15 to 20 inches in captivity. They hunt mainly in the early morning and late evening for spiders and centipedes, and will occasionally tackle scorpions.
Threats and Defense
Coyotes hunt Western hooknose snakes.
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This snake is not particularly large or fast, and it is not venomous. They spend a lot of their time below ground in burrows but have to venture above ground to eat and find a mate. Large birds such as hawks and crows, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and larger snakes all hunt them. They are very vulnerable to attack and have developed some cool defensive tactics to protect themselves.
Defensive Behaviors
When threatened, Western hooknose snakes will jerk their body from side to side and strike with their mouth closed. If this does not work, they also deploy their secret weapon: the snake fart.
Is It Actually a Fart?
Western hook-nosed snakes spend a lot of time underground.
Not really. When humans fart, the noise is made by air escaping from the end of the digestive tract through the anal sphincter muscles (the anus). Snakes, however, do not have an anus. Instead, they have a structure called a cloaca—a chamber where the genital, intestinal, and urinary tracts all empty their contents to the outside world.
Additionally, the snake is not simply releasing air through the opening. It forcefully everts (turns outward) the lining of the cloaca, which creates a popping noise very similar to a fart. The snake combines its defensive jerking movements with the cloacal popping, making it appear as though it is farting so forcefully that its body is being propelled forward. However, this is not actually the case. However, the combination of movement and sound is often enough to make a predator pause, giving the snake time to escape. There are several videos online of this happening if you want to take a look for yourself.
