Agression In Snakes

Toward humans. Not prey animals. I thought that was implied (and pretty clear).

I've had some BPs strike at rodents in defense, too--but not chase the rodent to bite it, without intent to eat it. Still defensive aggression.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Toward humans. Not prey animals. I thought that was implied (and pretty clear).

I've had some BPs strike at rodents in defense, too--but not chase the rodent to bite it, without intent to eat it. Still defensive aggression.

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It was vaguely implied.............

1. Bull sharks are extremely aggressive towards people............but they leave sea cucumbers alone..............

They attack people as potential prey and they are territorial. You would find no argument from most people that bull sharks are aggressive.

2. Bull terrier breeds can be extremely aggressive towards people and other dogs, but they tend to leave flies alone..............

Are they attacking people as potential meals? Of course not. Their aggression is completely unrelated to food and in many cases unrelated to territory. Does this make them more aggressive than a bull shark?

3. Hemichromis Fasciatus are consider one of the most aggressive cichlids. That aggression is territorial and mating influenced. Humans aren't even on their radar.............so does that mean that everyone is wrong, that they aren't aggressive because the aggression isn't aimed at us?

So the type of aggression matters and I think we can agree that animals can be consider aggressive even if that aggression has nothing to do with us.

So back to the original point. There are many, many aggressive species of snakes and these snakes can be aggressive for a variety of reasons. The fact that their aggression towards us is most likely defensive or irritation based does not lessen or invalidate this aggressive behavior.