Moment headless snake moves after being prodded on Aussie beach

The man said he came across the snake while walking his dog. Photo / Jako Noble - Reddit

A headless snake has been captured on video in Australia trying to defend itself after being prodded with a tennis racquet.

The footage was posted on social media and shows a snake launching in the direction of where it was being prodded.

It was posted on Reddit by user Jako Noble who did not declare on which beach he saw the distressed reptile.

The video shows the snake being prodded several times. Photo / Jako Noble

He said he came across the snake while walking his dog.

"I found it on a beach while walking my dog," he told Reddit users.

The video shows the snake being prodded several times and initially reacting to the direction of where the tennis racquet was pushed before trying to move in the opposite direction.

Jako Noble wrote that he believed the head was eaten by a bird and then dropped on the beach.

"It would have been eaten and dropped on the beach by a bird," he said.

"I reckon it was a bird that did it. They will often come up for air and be on the surface for a while. There are also a few birds of prey in the area."

However, another user suggested it may have been hit over the head with a shovel before Jako Noble came across it.

"Wouldn't be surprise at that. I think the only saving grace is there was a small chunk taken out of its side too, as if something had eaten a bit," Jako Noble wrote.