During a field study in Macedonia's Golem Grad, or Snake Island, in May 2013, researchers found a snake which had swallowed centipede alive and while trying to save itself, the prey almost managed to come out of the reptile's body.

Both were found dead, said researchers who affirmed that they were quite stunned to see such a scene. It is quite rare that juvenile snakes turn such large animals into their prey.

"Nose-horned vipers usually feed on small mammals, lizards, other snakes, amphibians and birds. On Golem Grad Island, adult vipers feed on lizards, dice snakes, and small rabbits, while juveniles consume lizards and S. cingulata", affirmed researchers.

The young female nose-horned viper probably had engulfed live centipede. In return, the prey had eaten its way through the snake.

The photograph taken by researchers clearly shows that a strong fight has been put up by the prey as its head can be seen poking out of the snake's wound. Serbian herpetologist Ljiljana Tomovic said definitely, the snake underestimated the size of the prey.

The snake was eight inches long and on the other hand, a centipede was six inches in length. Moreover, the centipede weighed more than the snake.

Tomovic said the team was tagging reptiles on Golem Grad Island in Lake Prespa. While doing the same, researcher Dragan Arsovski turned over a stone and discovered the shocking event.

An examination has been carried that unveiled all the inner organs of snake were missing, which gives an idea that the centipede ate the snake from inside out and then chew its way through the snake's body, but died.