Snake goes viral as owner spots smiley face appearing naturally on its skin

24 March 2024 , 09:38

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Snake goes viral as owner spots smiley face appearing naturally on its skin

Social media users have been left in awe after a video of a pet snake showed the creature had a smiley face pattern on its skin.

The clip of the creature and its unusual markings were shared by Branden Nicholson, a self-confessed animal lover and breeder of reptiles. These kinds of markings on a snake are very rare. The ball python can be seen in the viral clip draped over its owner’s hand. The snake’s head is patterned but the rest of its body is stark white, apart from a yellow disk on its side.

The yellow patch is outlined in black and black markings inside it look just like a smiley face. The coincidence caused astonishment on social media where the clip racked up over a thousands likes on Instagram. “I need to snuggle him! What a beauty,” wrote one viewer, while another simply commented “Wow!!! Gorgeous!!”.

Branden's ball python with a smiley face on it's skin (Jam Press Vid/@b.n_exotics)

The Ball Python is non-venomous and the species lives in West and Central Africa. They are favoured by breeders for the possibility of creating specimens with unusual patterns. “Adorable,” wrote a third user while another added “Awesome smiley.” Another comment read “I see a smile,” under the clip.

The cause of the unusual patterns is believed to be down to a naturally occurring genetic mutation known as pied. Breeders have tried to select for this colour and the mutation is now more common in captivity.

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Breeders try and select snakes to create unusual patterns including smiley faces (Jam Press/@b.n_exotics)

Breeders, like Branden, from Florida, US, try to create more of the same snakes with funky patterns - especially ball pythons. Snakes with recognisable markings can be very valuable; in 2021, a python with a whopping three smiley faces on its skin sold for £4,727.70.

Meanwhile, a YouTuber with more than 15 million subscribers has been arrested on suspicion of supplying snake venom as a party drug at raves. Elvish Yadav has been detained for 14 days under the Wildlife Protection Act, local media reported on Tuesday (March 19).

Indian broadcaster NDTV reports that nine snakes, including cobras, were recovered from the party along with 20ml of snake venom. Five people in attendance at the party in November were arrested on suspicion of snake smuggling.

Emma Guinness