This is the incredibly bizarre and rare moment a snake fakes its own death in a bid to deter potential predators.
The eastern indigo snake was spotted on the ground in Mission, Texas, USA, by Eric Johnson, who noticed the unusual behaviour.
When approached by Mr Johnson, the cold-blooded creature began to squirm vigorously to get away but, realising it can’t, it stopped dead, mouth gaping and contorts its neck to appear as if it is broken.
The reptile remains limp and lifeless as Mr Johnson inspected it, but when the self-taught snake expert stepped away it ‘came back to life’, darting its tongue forward as if nothing is wrong.