9 Snakes That Eat Other Snakes (Even Rattlesnakes!)

Written by Gabrielle Monia
Updated: October 30, 2023
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Here’s our list of 9 snakes that actually eat other snakes!

The ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent eating its tail. It represents continual rebirth and the unity of all things. Things perpetually change in a cycle of destruction and recreation. What about the serpents that prefer the tails of other serpents? Snakes that eat other snakes are called Ophiophagus, a term that quite literally means “snake eating.” The king cobra is infamous for its diet of other snakes, but are there other snakes that like to hunt their kind? It turns out there are quite a few. Let’s take a look at 9 snakes that eat other snakes, including venomous types like the rattlesnake!

1. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

King Cobra - Close Up

King cobras are named for their diets of other snakes.

©Suresh Suryasree/Shutterstock.com

King cobras are perhaps the smartest snakes in the world. They’re calculated hunters who change their hunting strategy based on the specific prey and their current circumstances. They’re able to adapt to repeated situations and recognize their handlers. They’re the longest venomous snake species at an average of 11 to 13 feet long. The largest king cobra ever found was over 18 feet long! King cobras live in southern China, India, and Southeast Asia. They enjoy streams, forests, bamboo thickets, and swamps. While these carnivorous and capable hunters typically eat other snakes, birds, and lizards, they’ll also take advantage of other prey like rodents when options are limited. As far as snake preferences, king cobras mainly eat the Asian rat snake, dhamans, and pythons. They’ll also enjoy others like Indian cobras, kraits, vipers, and wolf snakes.

2. Mussurana Snake (Clelia clelia)

mussurana snake

Mussurana’s are immune to the venom of the fearsome fer-de-lance.

©Ryan M. Bolton/Shutterstock.com

Mussurana is the name for several Colubrid species of snake-devouring snakes. They begin life as colorful juveniles and mature to be brown, gray, or black. Clelia clelia is a species that lives from Central America down to Argentina. They can grow to be nearly 7 feet long. These snakes are unique in that they’re immune to the venom of vipers as fearsome as the fer-de-lance. They prey almost exclusively on snakes, including other pit vipers like the rattlesnake.

Mussuranas use a rear-fang technique when hunting. They have teeth at the front of their upper jaws but also fangs at the rear. These are called opisthoglyphous teeth, and they help them hold snake prey by the head to subdue it before swallowing. As a mussurana swallows serpent prey, it mashes the snake so that it can fit into its narrow digestive system.

3. Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

kingsnake curled up in grass

Kingsnakes eat venomous species like rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads.

©Matt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com

The common kingsnake is one of many kingsnake species which enjoy similar diets. The “king” portion of their name, like that of the king cobra, refers to its propensity to eat other snakes. These North American snakes are particularly fond of venomous species like rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. The venom of these snakes doesn’t affect them, so they are free to devour as they please.

Without venom, kingsnakes rely on constriction to subdue their prey. When hunting venomous snakes, kingsnakes use a special technique that lets them bite the jaws of the other snake to prevent it from fighting back. In an act of asphyxiation, the kingsnake finds its way to a victim snake’s head and starts to devour it whole while it is still alive. With its head trapped inside the kingsnake’s throat and unable to move, the other snake will die of suffocation. In addition to snakes, kingsnakes will eat frogs, turtles, birds, eggs, and rodents.

4. King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis)

mulga snake

King Brown Snake will eat other members of their species at times.

©Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock.com

The king brown snakes, also known as the mulga snakes, are spread throughout Australia. These long snakes can reach up to 11 feet in length. They’re opportunistic hunters who catch a variety of prey with impressive speed. They typically bite multiple times once they catch their prey, preventing it from fighting back. In addition to snakes, king brown snakes eat birds, amphibians, small mammals, and reptiles. They eat whip snakes, brown snakes, brown tree snakes, southern shovel-nosed snakes, Gould’s hooded snakes, and crowned snakes. They’ll even eat other king brown snakes in the right circumstances. 

5. Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi)

The Eastern indigo snake is a long, somewhat thin snake with large smooth blue-black scales that are iridescent purple in the light.

The Eastern indigo snake is assisted in its hunt by resistance to rattlesnake venom.

©Patrick K. Campbell/Shutterstock.com

The Eastern indigo snake is a long black nonvenomous snake in the southeastern United States. It’s the longest snake native to North America, and males regularly reach 7 to 9 feet, while females tend to be shorter. Their genus name Drymarchon roughly translates to “Lord of the Forest.”

They’re members of the Colubrid family of snakes, related to kingsnakes. However, unlike kingsnakes, they aren’t constrictors and instead rely on chasing and brute force to take down prey. Once they catch prey, they’ll pin them against a hard surface and suffocate them with a strong bite. These snakes are skilled at catching up to venomous snakes and devouring them. They like to eat copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes. They may have a resistance to rattlesnake venom that helps them to be successful predators of the venomous vipers to keep their populations in check. In addition to snakes, they’ll eat turtles, mammals, frogs, birds, lizards, and rodents.

6. Blue Malaysian Coral Snake (Calliophis bivirgatus)

Blue Malaysian Coral Snake

The blue Malaysian coral snake can take down stronger snakes with ease.

©reptiles4all/Shutterstock.com

There are over 80 species of coral snakes worldwide. Most of them eat a varied diet that includes snakes occasionally, but the blue Malaysian coral snake feeds almost exclusively on other snakes. This species lives in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and Burma. They have a redhead, tail, belly, and a dark blue back with lighter stripes down the sides.

Blue coral snakes have a unique type of venom that is remarkable in its ability to subdue the most dangerous of snake prey. They have short fangs but long venom glands, the largest venom glands of any snake. These extend more than a quarter of their body length. Blue Malaysian coral snakes evolved a fast-acting venom that allows them to take down bigger and stronger venomous snakes quickly and avoid being bitten back. The venom doesn’t kill immediately but rather acts on all the nerves of their dangerous prey, freezing their bodies by spastic paralysis. They eat a variety of snake species and will even prey on young king cobras.

7. Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus)

Most Venomous Snakes - Banded Krait

The banded krait preys on Sunbeams snakes, rainbow water snakes, and red-tailed pipe snakes.

©RealityImages/Shutterstock.com

Like many other kraits, the banded krait feeds mainly on other snakes. This is a highly venomous species found on the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia. It can be easily recognized by its alternate black and yellow crossbands, strong ridge, and triangular body cross-section. These carnivores will eat fish, frogs, skinks, and snake eggs, but their main prey is other snakes. They enjoy a wide range, including the Sunbeam snake, rainbow water snake, red-tailed pipe snake, Indo-Chinese rat snake, Russel’s viper, cat snake, and more. These snakes bite their victims first to inject venom and then devour them headfirst.

8. Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

Eastern coachwhip snake

Coachwhips can reach 4 mph when chasing their prey.

©Matt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com

Coachwhips are long and slender, nonvenomous snakes native to the Americas and common in South America. They have black or dark brown coloring that lightens as it reaches the tail and a distinctive patterning that resembles a braided whip. These snakes actively search for prey and can reach speeds of up to 4 miles per hour in chase. They use neither venom nor constriction to subdue prey, instead striking out and grasping victims in their jaws. They swallow their prey dead or alive. Other snakes and lizards are their most common prey, but they also eat insects, birds, eggs, and amphibians.

9. Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) 

Cottonmouths are considered to be one of the few semi-aquatics snakes in the world.

Cottonmouths are capable hunters on water or on land.

©jo Crebbin/Shutterstock.com

Also known as a water moccasin, the cottonmouth is a semi-aquatic venomous pit viper. It lives throughout the southeastern United States and spends most of its time in or around water. Cottonmouths have long, thick, muscular bodies that grow up to 6 feet long. These snakes have no trouble hunting on both land and water. They either chase actively or use the ambush method of sitting by and waiting for prey to pass. These carnivores eat a varied diet of fish, rodents, small mammals, amphibians, insects, and other snakes. They have also been known to eat members of their species.

Other Reptiles That Eat Each Other

Monitor Lizard in the Borneo island

©elena_photo_soul/Shutterstock.com

Reptiles that eat other reptiles are not as uncommon as one might think. In addition to the black-throated monitor lizard preying on other lizards or snakes, some species of turtles, such as box turtles, have been observed consuming their own kind – usually hatchlings or juvenile individuals crossing their paths. Perhaps most famously, Komodo dragons will even feed on large prey such as deer and pigs in addition to eating other Komodo dragons! It is important to remember that all animals must find a means to survive in their environment – including using whatever food sources are available. Despite its shocking nature, cannibalism among reptiles can sometimes be necessary for survival within their respective habitats.

Additionally, some lizards will eat the eggs of other reptiles. Certain species of monitor lizards, such as the Nile Monitor and the Savannah Monitor, are known to feed on reptile eggs when available. While many times they may prefer larger prey items like rodents or insects, if a lizard is hungry enough, it will not pass up an opportunity for an easy meal. Other types of lizards that have been seen eating reptile eggs include iguanas and skinks. It is important to remember that while this behavior can be common in certain wild populations, captive-bred animals may not exhibit this same behavior since their food needs are usually met by their owners.

How Can You Snake-Proof Your Property?

Male Northern Cardinal by a Bird Feeder

Birdfeeders are a fun way to attract wild birds, but don’t be surprised if snakes follow suit and show up in your yard, seeking a meal.

©Ami Parikh/Shutterstock.com

While we certainly do appreciate those snakes that practice cannibalism, that still doesn’t change the fact that some folks just don’t want snakes of any kind slithering around on their property! Here are some helpful tips to keep snakes away.

  • Rid your yard of potential reptile shelters–any places where snakes can find shelter are attractive to them because they like to hide. Places they could hide would be leaf piles, wood piles, in empty containers like buckets or flower pots, or around large rocks. Checking for and removing these hiding places can discourage snakes.
  • Lawn upkeep–Stay on top of mowing your lawn, as snakes can be attracted to tall, overgrown grass and brush.
  • Rid your yard of any standing water–Standing water is a definite draw to snakes, whether it be ponds, bird baths, fountains, or puddles.
  • Eliminate food sources for snakes–Snakes like to prey on rodents and birds, as well as other small mammals. If you have birdfeeders to attract wild birds, you could also be inviting snakes into the yard. Make sure to actively curtail rodents on your premises as well, as they also attract snakes.
  • Have outdoor pets that scare away snakes–Dogs and cats are often enemies of snakes, as well as some kinds of chickens, so these are potential options for keeping snakes away.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sibons photography/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Gabrielle is a freelance writer with a focus on animals, nature and travel. A Pacific Northwest native, she now resides in the high desert beneath towering ponderosa pines with her beloved dog by her side. She often writes with a coyote call or owl hoot backdrop and is visited by the local deer, squirrels, robins and crows. A committee of turkey vultures convenes nightly in the trees where she resides. Here, the flock and their ancestors have roosted for over 100 years. Her devotion to the natural world has led her to the lifelong study of plants, fungi, wildlife and the interactions between them all.

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