A spotted bush snake ambushes and deals a fatal blow to a frog twice the size of the snake’s head. The frog fights for its life in the snake’s jaws as the snake tries to swallow it whole.

26-year-old field guide  Frank De Beer  witnessed this strange scene as it unfolded. He shared his sighting with Latest Sightings:

“I grabbed my camcorder and searched for the culprit behind this sound. Looking in the bushes around the cabin from which the sound emanated, he was anxious because he did not know what he was looking for or what he would find”.

“The only certainty I had is that something is being attacked and 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed. What could it be? That’s when I came across this amazing scene of a spotted bush snake with a large foam nesting frog clenched tightly in its jaws!

Spotted bush snakes are harmless snakes that feed on frogs and geckos. These bright green snakes, which can be found throughout most of South Africa, are excellent climbers. This gives them an advantage when hunting tree-dwelling prey such as tree frogs and lizards.

“I watched in amazement as the frog struggled and fought for its life just meters from me. Although this particular frog was relatively large, I was amazed at how easily this little snake took the life of this frog.”

“The snake began to move towards the bushes to enjoy this well-deserved meal. After killing the frog, the snake proceeded to swallow it whole and digest its large meal in the confines of some thick bushes.

Smaller snakes, like this spotted bush snake, don’t need to eat every day. A meal of this size could satisfy this snake for almost a week. While larger snakes need to eat only once a week, smaller snakes may need to eat twice a week. This all varies depending on the size of the prey the snake has eaten. “While I get to witness the wonders of African nature every day, even for me, seeing a snake catch and eat a frog is rare, and I consider myself truly lucky.”

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