[The Theatrical Survival Tactics of the Dice Snake]-[Playing Dead (7/22/24)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2024-07-22

📋 Summary

The Dramatic Survival Strategies of the Dice Snake

In a recent episode of the Wow in the World podcast, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explore the fascinating and somewhat grotesque survival mechanisms of the dice snake (Natrix tessellata). Through a playful theatrical lens, the hosts break down scientific research published in the journal Biology Letters regarding how these non-venomous reptiles evade predation on Golemgrad, an island in North Macedonia.

The Art of Playing Dead

While many animals, such as the Virginia possum or the guinea pig, are known for "playing dead" to deter predators, the dice snake takes this defensive behavior to an extreme level. The hosts introduce the concept through a comedic acting workshop, where the guest character, Dennis the Dice Snake, demonstrates the "dramatic death roll."

Scientific observations reveal that when threatened by predatory birds, the dice snake engages in a multi-stage performance. Initially, the snake goes limp, opens its mouth, and lets its tongue loll out—a classic sign of death meant to discourage a predator from viewing the snake as a viable, living meal.

Beyond Acting: The Grosser Reality

What sets the dice snake apart from other animals that feign death is the intensity of its commitment to the performance. Researchers from the University of Belgrade, who studied 263 dice snakes, observed that these reptiles do not merely lie still. To maximize their chances of survival, they often engage in two highly repulsive behaviors:

Auto-hemorrhaging: About 28 of the 263 snakes observed began to spew blood from their mouths. This dramatic display is intended to signal to the predator that the prey is not only dead but perhaps diseased or otherwise unappealing.
Defecation (Soiling): Nearly half of the snakes studied would soil themselves, smearing their own feces over their bodies. This serves as a powerful deterrent, as the scent and presence of waste make the snake appear even more undesirable to a hungry raptor.

Scientific Implications of "Committed" Acting

Interestingly, the study suggests that this "performance of a lifetime" actually works. While the total time spent playing dead was slightly shorter (about two seconds less) for those snakes that used blood and feces compared to those that only went limp, the combination of these factors appears to be more effective at convincing predators to abandon their hunt.

Furthermore, the researchers noted that this sophisticated behavior is primarily displayed by adult snakes. Juvenile dice snakes, lacking the experience or perhaps the physiological maturity to perform these complex maneuvers, are significantly less skilled in the art of dramatic survival, making them more vulnerable to predation.

Conclusion

By examining the behavior of the dice snake, the episode highlights how evolution has equipped some species with surprisingly theatrical, albeit "nasty," survival strategies. As Mindy and Guy Raz humorously discuss, while the sight of a snake covering itself in its own waste may be "utterly disgusting" to humans, for a dice snake on Golemgrad, it is a highly effective, life-saving adaptation. This research underscores that in the natural world, the most successful survival tactics are often those that leave the predator with absolutely no appetite.

🎯Key Sentences

I gotta let you know that

We think this one is going to be music to your ears.

Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you.

It's going to be a November to remember.

But for now, let's get on with the show.

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📝Key Phrases

music to your ears

get on with the show

acting is really my thing

didn't quite catch that

fine art of

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📖 Transcript

Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.

Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.

And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,

And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.

Oh, but that's not all, Reg.

Or study on the web version →