Watch the hognose snake play dead to deceive predators

Hognose snakes are incredibly skilled at scaring off predators, but they also have another cunning trick to use as a back up.

If their initial defence, which involves spreading out their neck to mimic a cobra snake and hissing and striking, doesn’t work, they will then play dead until the predator retreats.

The snake will lay on its back with its mouth open, and even give off a foul smell to make its act more believable. Plus, if you try flipping it back the right way up, it will instantly turn over again and carry on playing dead.

You can see this fascinating behaviour in the video below…