What does it mean when a snake wiggles its tail

 

 

Rattlesnakes receive their name from the rattle located at the end of their tails, which makes a loud noise when vibrated.

Its function is to deter predators and warn passers-by of their presence.

Rattlesnakes are the leading contributor to snakebite injuries in North America, however, they rarely bite, unless provoked or threatened.

In Australia, snakes have “less polite” manners to warn you for their presence: a “dry bite”.

In other words, a bite without venom.

This can be the result of many factors and not only the necessity of preserving venom: gland infection, obstruction or simple distance misjudgment, are just a few of the reasons.

Juvenile snakes are less likely to preserve their venom and usually empty their glands entirely, making them more dangerous than their mature counterparts.

Older snakes can replenish venom quicker after it has been depleted, but are more likely to have calcified or obstructed venom ducts.

Interestingly, the percentage of dry-bites varies greatly between species: from very common in the Eastern Brown Snake (80%) to rarely in the taipans (5%).