Shocking moment the world's second most venomous snake flattens itself to sneak into a house

Video posted by Mark Pelley shows a massive eastern brown snake flattening its body to squeeze through a door .

Eastern brown snakes can contort their bodies to squeeze through closed doors.

Recently, a video shared by Mark Pelley, a snake catcher based in Melbourne, Australia, showing how eastern brown snakes can contort their bodies to easily squeeze through closed doors, has attracted a lot of attention from the online community.

'Eastern brown snakes, even a large one like this, have the ability to flatten themselves and gradually squeeze into small cracks under doors,' Pelley said in the video.

The video, uploaded on March 2, has been viewed more than 800,000 times on TikTok and more than 3,500 times on Facebook.

Pelley said it's common in Australia to see snakes sneaking into homes like this during the summer months. "Snakes are always coming into people's homes looking for food, water, shelter," Pelley told Newsweek.

The snake in the video is about 1.7m long (Pelley described it as a large one).

According to the Australian Museum, the average size of an eastern brown snake is just under 1.5m.

The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is native to Australia and New Guinea . It is considered the second most venomous snake in the world and is responsible for more snakebite deaths than any other species in Australia. Its bite contains a powerful neurotoxin that gradually paralyzes the nerves of the victim's heart, lungs and diaphragm, causing them to suffocate.

These snakes are found in a wide range of habitats across Australia, including some of the country's most densely populated areas, so encounters with these reptiles are not uncommon.

In response to Pelley's video, many users joked that they would kill any snake that snuck into their home like that. But Pelley said that's not a good idea.

'If you see a snake, do not attempt to harm it,' he said . 'Snakes usually only bite in self-defense, and eastern brown snakes are no exception. Despite their "aggressive" reputation, eastern brown snakes usually run away if disturbed and only bite if provoked.'

'Killing snakes in Australia is illegal, not only because of the risks involved but also because of the important ecological role these animals play in their environment. It's important to understand that they have an important role in nature so don't harm them ,' Pelley added.

Pelley advises: 'If you see a snake in your home, the best thing you can do is call your local snake catcher.'