Rattlesnakes are vicious vipers. They’re equipped with toxic venom and a menacing appearance that’ll give most animals good reason to steer clear. Still, these snakes have about 20 natural predators, many of whom are their fellow snakes.
Several species of snakes kill rattlesnakes. These ophiophagous snakes include coachwhip snakes, mussuranas, indigo snakes, common kingsnakes, southern black racers, harlequin coral snakes, and cottonmouth snakes. Some of these species attack rattlers defensively, but most are the aggressors.
If you’ve always wanted to know about the homicidal tendencies of some snakes against their own, read on! I’ll list the snakes that kill rattlesnakes and explain why they’re such cold-blooded killers.
1. Coachwhip Snakes
These long slender snakes aren’t the most willing fighters, but they’re capable of getting down and dirty with rattlesnakes.
Coachwhips prefer smaller prey that isn’t likely to inject deadly venom into them, like small mammals, frogs, and lizards. However, they will still confront the riskier rattlesnakes when push comes to shove.
This endeavor is dangerous for the coachwhip for many reasons; chiefly, their lack of venom to protect themselves. The only arrow in their quiver is their unmatched stealth.
A coachwhip will call upon its speed and agility to blindside its opponent. It’ll then grab the rattlesnake’s throat in its jaws until the now-helpless rattler suffocates and goes limp.
2. Mussuranas
Mussurana is a common name for snakes of the genus Clelia. These gigantic, venomous snakes have an extensive diet but are partial to rattlesnakes.
They’re also known as pseudoboas because they kill snakes by constriction; they’ll typically reserve their weak venom for small rodents.
First, a mussurana will sink two large, grooved teeth into the rattler’s throat. It’ll then coil around the rattlesnake and squeeze until the prey is immobile.
The mussurana will have a hefty meal now, so it’ll use wave compressions within its gastrointestinal tract to ensure the rattler goes down smoothly.
Mussuranas are immune to rattlesnakes’ venom, but this isn’t the case with another snake species on their menu–coral snakes. And, what do you know, coral snakes also have a taste for rattlers.
3. Coral Snakes
Coral snakes are the second deadliest of all the vipers in the world. This fact probably emboldens these little slitherers as they prepare to face off with rattlesnakes.
While a large amount of coral snake venom can kill any living organism, its venom delivery system is inefficient. Coral snake fangs are tiny, weak, and don’t retract. These snakes count on their first bite doing the job, which often isn’t the case when it comes to attacking large animals.
As a result, they’re more confident in attacking rattlers’ neonates than adults who are likely to subdue them.
4. Common Kingsnakes
Like mussuranas and indigo snakes, common kingsnakes are immune to rattlesnake venom. Even if the rattlesnake manages to inject venom into them in self-defense, these snakes will stay fit as a fiddle.
Kingsnakes are also constrictors, adding to their similarities to mussuranas. They also prefer to swallow their prey whole.
Certain kingsnakes prefer feeding on frogs (Florida kingsnakes). Meanwhile, Eastern and Californian kingsnakes almost exclusively rely on ophiophagy for their sustenance.
This attack is slightly more personal than the other snakes’ on this list; kingsnakes and rattlers both emit audible warnings to ward off unwanted guests.
5. Black Racers
These snakes derive their name from their preferred method of capturing their prey: speed.
Black racers, at their relatively small size and only 5 feet (152 cm) long, aren’t much of a threat to mature rattlesnakes. Baby rattlers, however, are frequently targeted by these opportunistic hunters.
The quick black racer snake will bite a neonate’s neck, resulting in rapid suffocation for the poor baby. The black racer will then swallow it headfirst.
Batches of baby rattlesnakes look like a buffet to this predator. In fact, researchers have even spotted them wiping out entire nests of unprotected snakelets.
6. Indigo Snakes
Indigo snakes use a typical killing method against rattlesnakes: they overpower them, suffocate them, and swallow them whole.
What indigo snakes lack in venom, they make up for in size, strength, and acquired resistance to rattlesnake venom, just like kingsnakes and Indigo snakes. And when the fight seems to be taking too long to end, an indigo snake won’t hesitate to bash the rattler’s head against a hard surface to speed up their lunchtime.
7. Cottonmouth Snakes
Another personal betrayal in mother nature comes from this interestingly named serpent.
Cottonmouths and rattlesnakes are both pit vipers, meaning they can sense heat by using a pit organ on both sides of their heads.
While a cottonmouth snake isn’t a particular threat to humans, they’ll make a tasty meal out of a baby rattlesnake.
Cottonmouths typically inject lethal venom into baby rattlesnakes, wait for them to die, then consume them whole.