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.
Tags: defensive behavior, Long-nosed snake, Longnose Snake, musk, musking, Rhinocheilus lecontei