Autohaemorrhaging in a Bahamian Thunder Snake

A Bahamian Thunder Snake (Tropidophis curtus barbouri) displaying autohaemorrhaging behaviour. Snakes utilise a wide variety of antipredatory behaviours but cephalic autohaemorrhaging, or the deliberate ejection of blood from the head, is certainly one of the most spectacular. The exact function of this behaviour is yet to be fully understood but the expelled blood could exacerbate the snake’s other off-putting behaviours to convince a predator that it is no good to eat. The snake was returned back to where it was found right after data collection and seemed to be in perfect health. You can find out more about this fascinating behaviour in the Herpetological Bulletin () or on Researchgate ().