Video shows disturbing 'lure' death adder uses to attract its prey

If you’ve ever noticed a worm-like creature moving in the leaf litter a snake catcher has shared a video which might make you think twice about going in for a closer look.

The footage was posted online by Steve Brown from Brisbane North Snake Catchers and Relocation to show how his death adder attracts unsuspecting prey.

Mr Brown’s snake, named Clyde, can be seen in the video wiggling the tip of its tail, which is much lighter than the rest of its body, and using it as a lure.

With the contrasting colours of its scales it is easy to see how prey could be fooled.

“This acts like worm or caterpillar which will get the attention of birds, rats and mice and then when its prey is in range the Death Adder will strike and ambush its prey,” the snake catcher wrote online.

While the footage of the snake, which is only about 50 centimetres long, made one Facebook user “shiver”, another said it was “just mesmerising”.

The common death adder does not grow very long, and generally has a stocky body and a triangular-shaped head.

Mr Brown explained to Yahoo7 that they are “not known for moving long distances very quickly, but have a fast strike”

And for those animals who are mesmerised by the tail’s movement – they won’t have long to react if they are spotted by the snake.

“They can go from strike position to injecting its venom and back again in less the quarter a second,” Mr Brown said.

It also seems the snakes are patient and do not give up easily.

“A death adder is an ambush predator so it will sit there for weeks waiting to get a meal,” he said.

The Australian Reptile Park’s website says this type of snake has a primary diet of birds and small mammals, but this ambush hunting can make the death adder “more of a threat to humans.”

“Most other snakes will move away from the first sign of danger whereas death adders tend to sit tight and rely on their camouflage.

“A stray foot in the wrong place can lead to an extremely rapid strike (probably the fastest of all Australian snakes) and a serious bite. “

However the reptile park says they are reluctant to bite unless the threat is very close to them.

And Mr Brown agrees, “No snake will go out of its way to bite anyone.”

“If left alone the snake will leave you alone.”