When a mongoose and a snake fight, the victor may surprise you. While both of these animals are predators, that is one of their only similarities. The differences between these two fascinating animals seem never-ending, just with looks alone—let’s dive a bit deeper!

A mongoose is a small carnivorous mammal with four legs, thick fur, and a tail. At first glance, it looks pretty harmless, but it’s actually fearless and lethal. A snake is a carnivorous reptile with no legs, scales, a small tail, a forked tongue, and, depending on the type, a venomous bite. 

In this article, I will explain the key differences between a mongoose and a snake. I will also discuss the mongoose and snake battle and cover which of these two predators will likely come out on top.

Key Differences Between a Mongoose and a Snake

On Average	Mongoose	Snake
Size	7 to 28 in long (17.78 to 71.12 cm) Weighs 10 oz to 9 lbs (283.5 g to 4.08 kg)	39 in long (99.06 cm) Weighs 1lbs to 5lbs (0.45 kg to 2.27 kg)
Speed	20 miles per hour (32 kmph)	1 to 3 miles per hour (1.6 to 4.8 kmph)
Teeth and Bite	28 to 40 sharp teeth 4 incisors that are strong enough to crush bones	4 rows of teeth on the top and 2 rows on the bottom Venomous fangs
Sense of smell	Powerful sense of smell they use to sniff out their prey	Powerful smell sensor called Jacobson’s organ Snakes flick their tongues to gather chemicals in the air, which allows Jacobson’s organ to smell
Sense of sight	Very good eyesight used for hunting Adaptations to eyes help them see well at night	Extremely poor eyesight Flick their tongue to get a sense of their surroundings
Sense of hearing	Keen sense of hearing used to track their prey	Soundwaves cause vibrations in the snake’s skull that they hear in their inner ear
Advantages in a fight	Uses a combination of teeth and claws Resistant to venom Quick reflexes	They can either envenomate or constrict their prey until it dies

Let’s explore these differences in further detail.

Size

In a fight, the opponents’ sizes can significantly impact who comes out on top. However, this is not always the case.

With the mongoose being a small mammal, standing on average at about 28 inches (71.12 cm), its size doesn’t do much for it in a fight. However, a mongoose can stiffen its thick bristly fur to make itself look twice as big as a tactic to intimidate its opponent.

A snake can be a range of sizes depending on its type. Even with an average length of 39 inches (99.06 cm), a snake is almost an entire foot (30.48 cm) longer than a mongoose. This gives the snake an advantage over the mongoose in a fight.

Speed

Having a quick reaction time and being able to move in a flash is a huge advantage in a fight. The opponent who is quickest to strike and quickest to dodge will, in most instances, come out with minor damage.

The mongoose is a very fast predator, with speeds topping out at 20 miles per hour (32 kmph). With its agility and quick reflexes, the mongoose has no issue capturing its prey and is also very hard to get a hold of.

The average snake is not nearly as fast as the mongoose. Although it can get up to a speed of 3 miles per hour (4.8 kmph), it’s not easily done. The snake moves by sliding from side to side on the ground, so it’s not able to travel far very quickly. Not having legs leaves the snake at a significant disadvantage.

Teeth and Bite

The power behind a predator’s bite can be precisely what ends the attack. All it takes is one bite in the right place on their opponent’s body, and it’s over.

The mongoose uses its 28 to 40 teeth to crush its opponent’s bones and chew up its carcass. In most cases, its prey is no match for its sharp teeth; however, there are times the mongoose finds a worthy opponent that puts up an epic fight.

The snake, in its own right, has a killer bite. Using its sharp fangs and four rows of teeth on the top and two rows on the bottom, most opponents don’t stand a chance. Some snakes have fangs that can inject venom into their victims, causing pain and extreme irritation—or even death. 

Neither of these animals has the advantage over the other in this round. Both have mighty bites that can pierce through their opponents, rendering them helpless.

Senses

The senses of hearing, sight, and smell greatly influence how well predators find their prey. These predators depend on the senses to hunt and keep themselves safe from other predators.

The mongoose has a keen sense of hearing, sight, and smell. This gives them an edge over the snake. When a mongoose is hunting a snake, he locates them mainly using his sense of smell. He puts his nose to the ground and sniffs out his prey.

The snake’s senses are not as advanced as the mongoose’s. The snake’s tongue plays a key role in how he smells and sees. To hunt his prey, the snake flicks its tongue around to gather chemicals in the air to smell with its Jacobson’s organ. It also uses this tongue technique to get a sense of its surroundings because its eyesight is poor.

Advantages in a Fight

These fascinating animals have killer techniques when fighting against each other or any other predators.

The mongoose’s quick reaction time gives this animal an advantage during combat. The mongoose is also a tireless and persistent contender who tends to wear down its enemy during a fight, giving them a considerable advantage.

Many snakes use camouflage to their advantage and attempt to catch their opponent off guard. They use ambush techniques to capture their prey. The snake may also use its body to wrap around its prey to crush it before consuming it. 

Some snakes also have the advantage of using venom to paralyze or blind their opposers. They squirt their venom into their victim’s eyes or inject it with a ferocious bite.

Why a Mongoose and a Snake Fight

When a mongoose and snake fight, it’s almost always a fight to the death. There are times, however, when one of them manages to free itself and escape with its life. Usually, the battle is brought on for one of three reasons. 

• They are hungry and in search of a meal. Some snakes can go months without eating, so they need to find worthwhile prey when they are out for a hunt. Mongooses are opportunist hunters. They will eat whatever prey they come across and are not very particular.
• They are protecting their young from predators. When one gets too close to the opponent’s nest, the opponent becomes defensive of their babies. A battle will ensue to ensure the safety of their young, and as a bonus, they acquire a meal.
• They are defending themselves against their rival. They can’t simply walk away when their enemy challenges them, as it becomes a kill-or-be-killed situation.

Mongoose vs. Snake: Who Wins?

Most of the time, the fearless mongoose wins this epic fight. This is because the mongoose’s swift moves and ability to resist the snake’s venom, thanks to mutations in its nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, give it an incredible advantage over a snake.

When attacking the snake, the mongoose’s most effective move is striking the snake’s head with its teeth and crushing its skull. When all goes to plan, this kills the snake, and the mongoose then goes on to devour its body. 

However, even with the mongoose’s ability to resist the snake’s venom, there are times when the snake’s bite enables its fangs to puncture the mongoose’s stomach lining. This results in rare cases when a fight between the two ends in the mongoose bleeding internally and dying.

Final Thoughts

Although the mongoose looks like a cute and cuddly creature that would no doubt fall victim to a snake’s attack, this animal is surprisingly fierce. The mongoose’s quick, fearless, and persistent demeanor often helps it come out on top, even against the deadliest snakes. 

Snakes have always been at the top of the list of creatures that strike fear into the hearts of both animals and people. And while snakes can be extremely dangerous predators, they are not invincible. This is a reminder that looks can be deceiving, and even the cutest-looking creatures can be extraordinarily lethal.