Clever mimicking to scare off potential predators. I taught my children how to tell if a snake here in Florida is a pit viper. Triangle shaped head and “cat” eyes. That and the fact they usually attack by putting themselves into a hoop shape and rolling after you.
“That and the fact they usually attack by putting themselves into a hoop shape and rolling after you.”
Ah, the infamous hoop snake. Classical camping lore back when I was a kid in the 50’s.