A man mistook a toad-carrying reptile for a 'horned snake' in southern China.

The bizarre video was filmed in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province on July 14.

This sighting echoes a similar incident in May this year in the same region, where another person filmed a serpent-like creature moving slowly through the grass, sporting what seemed to be prominent 'horns' on either side of its head, sparking widespread amazement.

Zhao Li, curator of the Chengdu Huaxi Insect Museum, clarified that these sightings do not depict a true 'horned snake' but rather a non-venomous species known as Pseudagkistrodon.

Pseudagkistrodons are found in multiple Chinese provinces and primarily feed on toads and frogs.

In the video, a Pseudagkistrodon is seen consuming a toad, beginning its meal from the toad's head due to the toad's larger body size, and waiting for the toad's legs to retract before fully swallowing it. During this process, the toad's legs may protrude from the snake's mouth, creating a visual effect resembling 'horns'.

Zhao further emphasised that Pseudagkistrodons are gentle creatures that do not pose a threat to humans and are relatively common in the Meigu area of Liangshan.

Additionally, they are listed in the 'National List of Protected Wild Animals with Important Economic, Scientific, and Educational Value', affording them legal protection under national law.

7月14日，四川凉山，男子在美姑县一乡村公路上，近距离拍摄到一条看似头上长角的蛇。

而就在今年5月，有人同样在该地区拍摄到这一了这一奇异景象，一条蛇形生物在草丛中缓缓移动，其头部两侧似乎长着一对明显的“角”，令人惊叹不已。
对此，成都华希昆虫博物馆的馆长赵力表示，这两次在同一地区拍摄到的罕见生物并非真正的“长角蛇”，而是一种名为颈棱蛇的无毒蛇类。颈棱蛇在中国多个省份都有分布，主要以蟾蜍和蛙类为食。在视频中，颈棱蛇正在吞食一只蟾蜍，由于蟾蜍的身体比颈棱蛇粗大，颈棱蛇在吞食时会从蟾蜍的头部开始，等待蟾蜍的腿收拢后才能完全吞下。在这个过程中，蟾蜍的腿可能会从蛇嘴中伸出，形成了类似“角”的视觉效果。

赵力进一步强调，颈棱蛇是一种性情温顺、不会攻击人类的蛇类，在凉山美姑地区比较常见。同时，颈棱蛇已被列入《国家保护的有益的或者有重要经济、科学研究价值的陆生野生动物名录》，俗称“三有保护动物”，受到国家法律保护。