We all learned about the food chain in grade school and have even seen the drama unfold in a nature documentary. But witnessing a critter eating another critter up close is another level of experience – it makes it real.
So was that experience for my friend, naturalist, and photographer, Sharon Milligan when she spotted two rather large creatures rolling about along the edge of a pond. A Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata) had managed to grab an equally large Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means) by its tail.
Knowing how determined water snakes are when pursuing prey, the outcome was predictable – the amphiuma would soon be swallowed whole. Amphiuma’s can deliver a nasty bite, but they are no match for a snake, especially as large as this water snake. For its part, the snake has numerous small teeth that will not give up its grip easily.
As for how any snake can swallow such large prey, they can separate their upper and lower jaws, allowing a much larger gape to accommodate large critters to pass. Once past the mouth, a snake will wriggle their jaws back in place. For the scene witnessed by Sharon, the ultimate result will be the snake, lying on the bank with a swollen body – the amphiuma in its gut.
Apart from the drama itself, Sharon also got to see a creature that is common, but rarely seen. The Two-toed Amphiuma is the largest of three species of amphiuma native to the southeastern U.S. As with their one-toed and three-toed relatives, they have two pairs of tiny (vestigial) legs. They are aquatic salamanders, and members of their group date to the time of the dinosaurs.
I can attest to several aspects of these critters and what the snake needed to do to capture this beast. Growing up in southwestern Louisiana, we called them Congo Eels, apparently because they resembled a Conger Eel – large marine critters. They are not, but the name was cool, and we encountered them in flooded ditches, especially in spring. Holding onto one was like trying to hold onto a bullfrog (slick as butter), except that bullfrogs croak when caught, but do not bite the heck out of you! Amphiumas are also quite strong.
For the most part, amphiumas are seldom seen. They are largely nocturnal and live in burrows, either made by themselves or others. They feed on fish, tadpoles, crawfish, insects and other invertebrates. They can also prey on frogs, other smaller salamanders, and even small snakes. As for water snakes, they feed on similar critters, in similar habitats, making them competitors. One difference, however, is that snakes can catch and manage much larger prey. I have seen water snakes catch fish that would seen to be impossible to swallow, and yet they can and do!
I cannot imagine the reverse of the drama Sharon saw – the amphiuma eating the snake, given their equal size. But, documenting this event certainly adds to what we know about two creatures at the top of local aquatic food chains. Thanks for the photos of this drama Sharon!
Hope to see you in our great outdoors!
