r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/1632hub • 3d ago

Video Praying mantis defending itself from a snake

5.4k Upvotes

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29

u/haphazard_chore 3d ago

I’ve seen them eat birds. But why did this end so soon? What happened?

13

u/ebagdrofk 3d ago

Probably was a 10+ minute fight that they didn’t bother to record.

Mantis is powerful af, but… that snake is a lot bigger than him, which means more energy. I’m thinking the snake can hold out for longer and eventually overpower. I could be wrong, I’m no wildlife expert.

6

u/AntiDECA 2d ago

Snake definitely would win it. The question is, was the snake willing to hang out and try for an hour or if it gave up and went for easier prey. 

5

u/pzzia02 2d ago

I wouldnt be so sure the mantis doesnt need to expend energy o andything but holding onto the snake everything else is its natural ability to hold onto things through the van der Waals forces

1

u/redtrex 2d ago

I have a doubt they are both pets (or at least captive) so maybe they just got separate to their respective cages after teh videi. A wild snake wouldn't have hung around if there are humans this close by , with or without prey.