Territorial Behavior of Kukri Snake

Island populations of Oligodon formosanus reveal rare territorial behavior in snakes. Females defend sea turtle nests for weeks, expelling other individuals until eggs hatch or are consumed. These nests provide large, persistent food resources, unlike typical snake prey. The species has specialized teeth for cutting eggs and uses tail display as defense, making combat risky—especially for males. These traits and resource conditions favor female territoriality, supporting the hypothesis that valuable, defensible resources drive the evolution of territorial behavior.