Egg-Eating Snakes: The Complete Story

Written by Colby Maxwell
Published: March 23, 2022
ยฉ Becky Sheridan/Shutterstock.com
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When we think of snakes, we generally consider them carnivorous predators that kill small animals through constriction or venom. For most snakes, that would be true, but not all. There is a group of snakes known as โ€œegg-eating snakesโ€ that have evolved to live exclusively on birdsโ€™ eggs. Imagining a snake swallowing an egg three times its width is rather comical, but it truly exists out there in the wild! Today, we are going to learn and discover all about these egg-eating snakes and get their complete storyโ€” you may just learn something new!

What Is An Egg-Eating Snake?

Egg-Eating Snakes: The Complete Story
Egg-eating snakes are a special group of snakes that have adapted to eat eggs exclusively.

ยฉJoe McDonald/Shutterstock.com

In short, an egg-eating snake is simply a snake that survives by eating eggs. However, that isnโ€™t the entire picture.

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Egg-eating snakes are a recognized group of snakes belonging to two different genera (scientific groups). These genera are Dasypeltis and Elachistodon, each with its groups of species within the genera. Each species within the group has special adaptations that allow them to find and eat a diet that is entirely made up of eggs.

All members of both groups are non-venomous and have adapted to live in locations with lots of birds (to provide enough eggs for their diet). Many of these snakes are relatively common, but there are a few species that are quite rare!

Letโ€™s learn some of the things that make these snakes so unique, plus a bit about how they became the egg-eaters that they are today.

Where Do Egg-Eating Snakes Live?

Egg-eating snakes live in two primary regions across the world, mostly according to their genera.

Dasypeltis is the more common of the two groups, and all of its species can be found in continental Africa. There are 17 species of Dasypeltis, and they all prefer wooded and forested regions with lots of birds. As eggs are their exclusive food source, having lots of birds nearby is rather important. The 17 different species of Dasypeltis can be found across different regions of Africa and generally stay within their localized region.

Elachistodon is the rarer of the two groups and is known as a โ€œmonotypicโ€ genus, meaning there is only one species within the category. That species is known as the Indian egg-eating snake but is occasionally referred to as the Westermannโ€™s snake. Indian egg-eating snakes can be found in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, making their range much smaller than Dasypeltis. These snakes also prefer forest and shrublands and generally reside at altitudes between 130-3,280 feet.

How Do Egg-Eating Snakes Hunt And Eat?

egg-eating snake
Egg-eating snakes eat their eggs whole, internally crush them, and regurgitate the shells.

ยฉBecky Sheridan/Shutterstock.com

Part of what makes egg-eating snakes so successful is their ability to climb. These snakes are some of the most adept climbers in the world, which allows them to scale rocks and trees with ease. When you pair their climbing ability with their sense of smell, these snakes can quite literally sniff out eggs in distant trees without a problem. Their sense of smell allows them to tell if an egg is too far developed to eat or if it is rotten, all without having to break it open.

Once they have found an egg, things get really interesting. In order to consume the egg, they begin by wrapping their entire jaws around it and drawing it into their throat. All snakes have flexible jaws, but egg-eaters have especially stretchy ligaments in their mouths and necks, giving them an added advantage. Additionally, egg-eaters donโ€™t have any teeth, allowing them to swallow the egg without any hangups.

After they have swallowed the egg, another evolutionary adaptation is up next. Egg-eaters push the egg to their stomach using strong muscles and then press it against enamel-capped bony protrusions in their spine. These bony protrusions are an adaptation unique to egg-eaters and allow them to internally break the eggs without spilling any of the valuable calories. After crushing the egg and squeezing it dry, they regurgitate only the shell. The entire process is remarkably efficient and doesnโ€™t allow any egg nutrients to go to waste.

How Do Egg-Eating Snakes Behave?

egg-eating snake
Egg-eating snakes are timid snakes that donโ€™t pose a threat to humans.

ยฉWillem Van Zyl/Shutterstock.com

Most egg-eating snakes are rather timid in nature and are often described as โ€œnervousโ€ snakes. When they are scared, they rub their scales against one another to create a hissing sound, hoping to scare off predators. These snakes can alternate between diurnal and nocturnal behavioral patterns, depending on the region and the need.

Interestingly, egg-eaters are becoming more common in the pet trade. Since chicken eggs are generally too big for them, quail eggs are often fed to them. After an egg-eater eats, it may not eat for at least another month. As generally hardy snakes with little food needs, they make easy pets for many reptile owners. The main drawback to having these snakes as pets is that they currently arenโ€™t being bred. Almost all of the current pets are wild-caught, but that is likely to change as breeders learn how to breed them successfully.

The 18 Species Of Egg-Eating Snake

Dasypeltis:

  • Dasypeltis abyssina
  • Dasypeltis arabica โ€“ Arabian egg-eating snake
  • Dasypeltis atra โ€“ montane egg-eating snake
  • Dasypeltis bazi
  • Dasypeltis confusa โ€“ confusing egg-eater
  • Dasypeltis congolensis
  • Dasypeltis crucifera โ€“ cross-marked egg-eating snake
  • Dasypeltis fasciata โ€“ Central African egg-eating snake
  • Dasypeltis gansi
  • Dasypeltis inornata โ€“ southern brown egg-eating snake
  • Dasypeltis latericia
  • Dasypeltis medici โ€“ East African egg-eating snake
    • Dasypeltis medici lamuensis
    • Dasypeltis medici mediciย 
  • Dasypeltis palmarum
  • Dasypeltis parascabra
  • Dasypeltis sahelensis
  • Dasypeltis scabra โ€“ common egg-eating snake
    • Dasypeltis scabra loveridgei
    • Dasypeltis scabra scabra
  • Dasypeltis taylori

Elachistodon:

  • Elachistodon westermanni

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egg-eating snake
egg-eating snake
ยฉ Becky Sheridan/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. When he isn't distracted by his backyard birdfeeder, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone around him about what he's recently learned. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it!

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