Watch an Elaborate Rat Snake Dance-Off
March 9, 2018—Near a beach in southern Sri Lanka, two oriental rat snakes engage in what looks like a mating dance. But it's actually a form of ritual combat between males. They've followed a trail of pheromones released by a female snake. Now they’re sorting out which of them gets to continue the pursuit. This “dance” is like wrestling: The goal is to pin down one’s opponent.