A very rare snake found dead with a centipede in its mouth

A Rim Rock crowned snake (Tantilla oolitica) has been found dead with a giant Caribbean millipede in its mouth.

According to

, this discovery, which occurred last February in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida (USA), has only been documented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and of the FMNH in an article in the journal

of September 4, 2022.

According to our colleagues, the snake died of suffocation by the centipede.

An indication that says a lot about the diet of this rare species of reptile.

recalls that until now, only 26 Rim Rock crowned snake had been observed by man.

Indeed, Tantilla oolitica has the particularity of evolving in the soil and only rising to the surface after heavy rains.

An endangered snake

However, this species is in danger of extinction, according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Indeed, the last observation of a specimen dates back to 2018, details Kevin Enge, the main author of the study.

This specimen found dead could learn a lot about the habits and biology of the species.

In this specific case, the examinations, carried out with a CT scan, indeed indicated that the centipede was the size of at least a third of the snake.

It remains to be determined what exactly caused his death.

The orientation of the legs or the injection of venom are the preferred leads.

World

Faced with the proliferation of Burmese pythons in Florida, a competition is organized to overcome them

Did you see ?

This incredible two-headed turtle just celebrated its 25th birthday, a record

• Planet

• UNITED STATES

• Snake

• Animals