Snake tactics | Life in Cold Blood

Duration: 2'49''

Synopsis

While snakes are usually feared for their bite, some use their venom to deter threats without having to bite them.

Further Information

More clips from Life in Cold Blood

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'40''

David Attenborough reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians.

2: Land Invaders | Life in Cold Blood

2: Land Invaders | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'35''

David Attenborough reveals the bizarre adaptations which have helped amphibians break their ties with water as he meets marsupial frogs...

3: Dragons of the Dry | Life in Cold Blood

3: Dragons of the Dry | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'52''

David Attenborough reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians, including wrestling beade...

4: Sophisticated Serpents | Life in Cold Blood

4: Sophisticated Serpents | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 58'02''

David Attenborough reveals the fascinating lives of snakes. A CCTV stakeout of wild rattlesnakes hunting shows what sophistica...

5: Armoured Giants | Life in Cold Blood

5: Armoured Giants | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'49''

David Attenborough meets the reptile heavyweights, showing what it's like to live in a suit of armour, and revealing a warm and carin...

Desert amphibians | Life in Cold Blood

Desert amphibians | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2010 | 1'13''

Spadefoot toads can stay underground in a state of suspended animation for years, but when they emerge they must feed and breed before...

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'53''

Wall lizards take advantage of foul-smelling dead-horse arums.

More resources about Living Things and Their Habitats

Greenhouse Gases | Climate Change: The Facts

Greenhouse Gases | Climate Change: The Facts

BBC One | 2019 | 1'50''

A discussion of the devastating impact of burning fossil fuels.

Meat: A Threat to Our Planet?

Meat: A Threat to Our Planet?

BBC One | 2019 | 57'43''

From colossal farms in America to the destruction of the Amazon, Liz Bonnin investigates how our hunger for meat is killing our planet.

9: The Rise Of The Mammals | Life On Earth

9: The Rise Of The Mammals | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 53'43''

Mammals have proved to be one of the most adaptable products of evolution. David Attenborough looks at their evolution from reptil...

Carbon in the ocean | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Carbon in the ocean | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

BBC Four | 2020 | 5'24''

Dr Helen Czerski explains how carbon is incorporated into the ocean and how the increase in carbon intake is impac...

Plants in cold environments | The Private Life of Plants

Plants in cold environments | The Private Life of Plants

BBC Two | 1995 | 5'20''

David Attenborough describes how certain plant species adapt to cold weather.

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'14''

The Living Forest looks at all the animals & plants that live in the forest on the ground to the forest canopy, & shows how they live in ba...

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 18'54''

People of the Forest looks at the Baka of the Cameroon & the Kayapo of South America & how their lives work in balance with the rainforest.

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'12''

By the next century, the rainforests of the world could have disappeared for ever, destroyed by outside influences and economic pressur...

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'16''

Despite the destruction, there are ways to save the forest, by careful harvesting, protecting, learning, replanting, policing - and campaig...

3: Coral Reefs | Blue Planet II

3: Coral Reefs | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 58'12''

The wildlife documentary series narrated by David Attenborough reveals the ingenious ways life exists in the undersea cities of tropical reefs.

4: Big Blue | Blue Planet II

4: Big Blue | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 58'23''

The wildlife documentary series narrated by David Attenborough explores a vast ocean desert where sperm whales must dive 1,000 metres just to feed.

Cattle feedyard | Meat: A Threat to Our Planet?

Cattle feedyard | Meat: A Threat to Our Planet?

BBC One | 2019 | 3'42''

Liz Bonnin visits a cattle feedyard, a mass factory farm, that contains about 50,000 cows.

Cotton production and the Aral Sea crisis | Stacey Dooley

Cotton production and the Aral Sea crisis | Stacey Dooley

BBC Three | 2018 | 5'02''

Stacey Dooley visits the Aral Sea Basin in Kazakhstan, which has almost entirely dried up due to cotton production.

Piling on pounds | Life

Piling on pounds | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 2'13''

Brown bears take advantage of a salmon run to fatten up for the winter.

Sustainable meat production | Meat: A Threat to Our Planet?

Sustainable meat production | Meat: A Threat to Our Planet?

BBC One | 2019 | 4'23''

Liz Bonnin discusses the importance of understanding the process behind the meat we eat (warning: this clip conta...

The carbon cycle and global warming | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

The carbon cycle and global warming | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

BBC Four | 2020 | 3'22''

The carbon cycle process is being overwhelmed by the amount of carbon dioxide released into the at...

The smallest fox with the biggest ears! | Super Cute Animals (video)

The smallest fox with the biggest ears! | Super Cute Animals (video)

BBC One | 2015 | 2'05''

The fennec's ears help it to survive in the heat of the desert dunes.

1: One Ocean | Blue Planet II

1: One Ocean | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 57'59''

Wildlife documentary series presented by David Attenborough, revealing new worlds and animal behaviours throughout the planet's oceans.

6: Coasts | Blue Planet II

6: Coasts | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 58'02''

The wildlife series narrated by David Attenborough explores the planet's coasts. They are the most changeable of the ocean worlds, but they offer ...

A wheelie good defence | Africa

A wheelie good defence | Africa

BBC One | 2013 | 2'19''

A golden wheel spider escapes the threat of a pompilid spider wasp in an amazing way.

More from Sir David Attenborough

3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III

3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III

BBC One | 2023 | 58'19''

David Attenborough explores earth's greatest wildernesses, where extraordinary life survives in unexpected ways, and nature puts...

Ants vs Cows | Natural World

Ants vs Cows | Natural World

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'09''

The super colony unites in a spectacular attack to defend their nest from curious cows.

The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II

The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 3'08''

Nutrients from the deep provide sustenance for a large gathering of sea life.

3: Jungles | Planet Earth II

3: Jungles | Planet Earth II

BBC One | 2016 | 58'00'''

Jungles provide the richest habitats on the planet - mysterious worlds of high drama where extraordinary animals attempt to survive in the most ...

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'53''

Wall lizards take advantage of foul-smelling dead-horse arums.

How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon

How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon

BBC Two | 2009 | 58'22''

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world faces a population crisis and if it is the duty of indiv...

Cross-dresser | Life

Cross-dresser | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 2'22''

Some male cuttlefish are too small to fight for a mate, so have to come up with a sneaky plan if they are to get their way with the girls. Approaching a...

7: Great Plains | Planet Earth

7: Great Plains | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 58'56''

Documentary series which celebrates Earth in its natural glory. A look at the great plains - wildernesses which support the greatest gathering...

Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer

Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer

BBC Two | 1993 | 3'04''

With a wingspan of over 3m, the wandering albatross has the biggest feeding range of any bird. Throughout the winter they remain in n...

Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

BBC One | 2023 | 57'14''

David Attenborough celebrates the rich variety of habitats in our wild isles, the existence of which is critical for the survival of species ...

2: Water Worlds | The Green Planet

2: Water Worlds | The Green Planet

BBC One | 2022 | 58'13''

A look at the beautiful, bizarre worlds created by water plants. Flowers smother rivers and lakes. Plants fight and hunt. A river bubbles ...

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

BBC One | 2022 | 1'32''

David Attenborough speaks about the environment. Also, includes footage of the drones that turn into animals.

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

BBC One | 2021 | 3'06''

COP26 delegates and climate scientist Hannah Cloke discuss their hopes for the COP26 conference.

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

BBC One | 2021 | 3'39''

Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough discuss their hopes for the future of the planet.

The People v Climate Change

The People v Climate Change

BBC Two | 2021 | 1'03'06''

Meet the 108 ordinary Brits who Sir David Attenborough says we should listen to. This warm and honest documentary reveals how everyday people fee...

Leopard seal vs penguin | Seven Worlds, One Planet

Leopard seal vs penguin | Seven Worlds, One Planet

BBC One | 2021 | 2'46''

Glaciers crumbling more quickly, due to climate change, give the advantage to leopard seals hunting penguins.

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

BBC One | 2021 | 1'15''

A poison dart frog fights off a contender until he's sufficiently warned off.

Consumption and waste | Extinction: The Facts

Consumption and waste | Extinction: The Facts

BBC One | 2020 | 3'30''

The impact of consumption and waste on biodiversity.

Tait's pups meet the pack… and honey badgers | Dynasties

Tait's pups meet the pack… and honey badgers | Dynasties

BBC One | 2018 | 2'10''

Tait introduces her tiny pups to the rest of the pack as they emerge for the very first time. But the pack is visi...

Marine predators and scavengers | The Blue Planet

Marine predators and scavengers | The Blue Planet

BBC Two | 2017 | 10'13''

The scavengers of the deep ocean rely on predators at the surface to provide their nutrition.