That’s what I thought when I encountered my first long-nosed snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) several years ago. Many snakes have a defensive behavior called “musking” that’s an evacuation of feces and various smelly whatnot from the cloaca. Some go a step further and write around in it to cover themselves in a disgusting mess, making them less appetizing. I must say it works. The long-nosed snake brings blood to the mix, leading me to believe the first several I picked up had been hit by a car before I found them.
Here’s one I moved off the roadway, which covered itself (and my hands) in it’s own poop and blood along the way.
![Rhinocheilus lecontei](http://fieldherper.com/fieldherper/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/r-lecontei-1-042309.jpg)
![Long-Nosed Snake](http://fieldherper.com/fieldherper/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/r-lecontei-2-042309.jpg)
Tags: defensive behavior, Long-nosed snake, Longnose Snake, musk, musking, Rhinocheilus lecontei
Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting