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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Video Shows Snake Trying To Eat Prey 10 Times Her Size
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A snake in Denmark has been spotted attempting to consume an oversized hare that's 10 times larger than itself. The chance observation of an adult female common European adder killing and intending to swallow a much larger prey—a European young hare—was captured in a series of videos by Klaus Birch, the co-author of a study on the encounter published in the journal Herpetozoa. The moment unfolded on the island of Læsø in the Kattegat region of northern Denmark—near a dirt road in open grassland around 32 feet from a sandy beach—back in August 2022. The snake appeared to be in a low nutritional status, likely after having given birth recently, the study said. "The adder under these circumstances might have benefited from a large prey to gain maximum energy after likely having given birth," the researchers said. Stills from videos showing a female Vipera berus snake biting and pulling the hare's front leg (pictured left) and examining and biting the head (pictured right). Stills from videos showing a female Vipera berus snake biting and pulling the hare's front leg (pictured left) and examining and biting the head (pictured right). Klaus Birch Birch arrived at the scene and found the adder examining the young hare and biting its left hind leg. "The hare was lying on the ground moving its four legs jerkily and head with difficulty and was unable to stand up," the researchers wrote in the study. The adder was startled by Birch's presence and escaped into the grass nearby. Within seconds, the adder returned to the hare and continued examining it, especially the front legs and the head, before zipping away into the grass again. However, around 20 seconds later, the snake returned to the scene and examined the hare "carefully and energetically," starting with its posterior parts, biting and moving the right hind leg, the study notes. The snake then examined the anterior parts of the hare, biting and pulling a front leg, before also biting its head. "The hare was still breathing but moved less than before," the study said. Birch chased the snake away and took the hare to attempt to save its life, but it died after around 30 minutes. While it is unknown whether the adder would have tried to swallow the hare had Birch not intervened, the researchers believe it is "likely" that the snake "would have abandoned its excessively large prey after careful examination." The study noted that it is unusual for snakes to regularly attack vastly oversized prey items that are clearly impossible to swallow. However, cases like this have been reported in previous research, such as an earlier observation of snakes that overestimated their abilities to swallow young rabbits and died while trying to do so. A previous study also noted a case of a snake that was found dead after it had just swallowed a large field vole. "The mass of the prey was 26g and the snake's mass after the prey had been removed was 28g. The adder had therefore consumed a meal equivalent to 92.9 percent of its mass," the team noted. The researchers concluded: "The above cases indicate that snakes killing and subsequently abandoning oversized prey items may well be an underreported phenomenon." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about snakes? Let us know via science@ Reference Bringsøe, H., Jablonski, D., & Birch, K. (2025). Overly optimistic adder, Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758), killing and intending to swallow an oversized young hare, Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778. Herpetozoa, 38, 155–159. Bull, D. (2016). Vipera berus (northern viper): Morphometrics of feeding on a common field vole. Herpetological Bulletin, 136, 33–34.
Miami Herald
28-03-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Antarctic giants and first-of-their-kind catches: See latest animal encounters
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent sightings: 'Abundantly large' deep-sea creature — 'all legs' — found off Antarctica. See it In icy waters near the South Sandwich Islands, researchers have discovered a fascinating creature known as a pycnogonid, or sea spider. This marine arthropod, found nearly 7,000 feet below the surface, is remarkable for its 'abundantly large' size, attributed to deep-sea gigantism. The discovery highlights the unique adaptations of species in polar regions. | Published March 20 | Read More | Venomous snake found on naturally snake-free island in Germany for first time. See it On Sylt Island in northern Germany, a resident's photograph confirmed the presence of a Vipera berus, also known as the common European adder. This sighting marks the first confirmed presence of the venomous snake on the island, which is naturally snake-free. The adder's arrival is a mystery, possibly linked to transported materials or as an escaped pet. | Published March 21 | Read More | Deep-sea camera films first-ever video of poorly known shark off Timor-Leste. See it Off the coast of Timor-Leste, scientists captured rare footage of the painted swellshark, Cephaloscyllium pictum, using deep-sea cameras. This elusive shark, previously known only from fish markets, was recorded at depths of over 1,700 feet. The discovery extends the known range of the species by more than 680 miles. | Published March 21 | Read More | Anglers snag 3-foot-wide creature in first-of-its-kind catch off El Salvador. See it Fishermen off the coast of La Libertad, El Salvador, caught a pair of roughskin eagle rays, marking the first record of this species in the country. Known for their diamond-shaped bodies and unique coloring, these rays are a rare find in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. But the discovery suggests the species may be more common in the area than previously thought. | Published March 24 | Read More | Fishermen snag 'large'-eyed ocean predator in first-of-its-kind catch in Philippines In the waters off the Philippines, researchers identified a sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, marking the first verified report of this species in the country. The shark, known for its 'large' eyes and dusky-tipped fins, highlights the need for conservation efforts due to its vulnerability to over-exploitation. The study also recorded other rare species, including the critically endangered Philippine guitarfish. | Published March 26 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of the most unusual and intriguing new species. Check back for the latest studies.
Miami Herald
21-03-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Venomous snake found on naturally snake-free island in Germany for first time. See it
On a naturally snake-free island in northern Germany, rumors of snake sightings have swirled for decades, but scientists never took them seriously — until now. One resident's chance encounter and photograph to prove it changed that. A resident of Sylt Island noticed a snake on a village street in May, snapped a photograph of it and uploaded it to the citizen-science project Beach Explorer, scientist Harald Ahnelt wrote in a study published March 14 in the peer-reviewed journal Check List. At first glance, the photo looks slightly grainy and relatively mundane, but it quickly caught Ahnelt's attention. Sylt Island, located in the North Sea near the Germany-Denmark border, is part of an island chain 'naturally void of snakes,' he wrote. But, since the 1970s, islanders have occasionally reported snake sightings. These 'oral reports' were generally considered 'doubtful or questionable' by scientists. The 2024 photo, however, clearly showed a Vipera berus, also known as the common European adder or common European viper, on Sylt Island, the study said. It was the island's first confirmed sighting of the venomous species and 'the northernmost record in Germany.' But how did the viper get there? Common European adders are native to and 'widely distributed' on the nearby mainland of Germany and Denmark, and the species is 'known to be able to cross marine waters,' Ahnelt said. The island also had several confirmed sightings of a non-venomous snake species accidentally imported 'with construction material.' Similarly, the common European adder could have 'arrived recently with transported material,' or it could have been an escaped or released pet, the study said. Information on the sighting is slim, and its origin is a mystery. In Germany, common European adders are considered 'critically endangered,' the study said. The species is one of the country's only venomous snakes and 'thrives in colder climates,' according to a 2023 article from the German newspaper Deutsche Welle. 'While adder bites can be painful and cause swelling, they are very rarely dangerous for humans.'
