'Dance of dominance' - RAT SNAKE COMBAT DANCE

Yesterday afternoon, I received a call from my friend Sivanandam asking me to come immediately to his agricultural farm with camera to capture the 'Mate Dance' of snakes. Within minutes I reached the spot, but was quite disappointed as I could not find snakes as they moved into bushes. 

But my friend was quite confident and insisted me to stay for a while and searched for it through the bushes.  He whispered me to come closer and there was a memorable moment of photography for me.

There is a common misconception of this sight as  'mating dance' of cobras. This dance is a battle for male superiority  and determines which male rat snake mates with a female.

Rat snake combat dance is a unique behaviour unknown in any other snake species in South Asia. The Rat snakes  are the most common snakes found in the hills and plains throughout India and can grow up to eight feet long.  

During  the breeding  season, female snake emits a scent from the musk glands at the base of their tail. Male snakes follow this scent trails to locate the females. 

They perform combat dance as a test of strength and  to establish their dominance  in the  territory.

The snakes intertwine their bodies, coil around each other and try to crawl over another male in the form of a spiral staircase. 

Their swirl movements  are  synchronised with great speed.

Each snake try to prove its dominance by pushing another's head down and try to climb over another.

Though termed as combat, they act in a more calm, graceful, rhythmic, non-agressive manner.

They raise their bodies to the height of 3-4 feet from the ground and this act may last for 1/2 hour to 2 hours.

 And the winner of this combat will mate with the female!

Finally,  the dominant  snake established its dominance by keeping his head high over his competitor and both silently moved away.

Though  this  ritual was exciting to watch, it is equally dangerous - if disturbed.

Thanks to my friend Sivanandam for guiding me all the way to capture these rare moments in a very close range within 20 feet.