Snake Olympics: Trials Judge Australian Snakes' Defense Responses
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 10:42
in Biology & Nature
The Olympic Games are not just for humans anymore. Researchers in Australia put two species of venomous snakes through a competition that included sprint trials in a racetrack and wrapping around, thrashing, tongue flicking, and biting when held--and then scored the snakes' responses. The results? If you were to come across one of these snakes in the wild, you might prefer it to be the small-eyed snake--it is more likely to flee than fight.