Whiskers twitching, the mouse stares into the jaws of death - and then pounces on them.  

The little fellow had no intention of being lunch for the deadly viper whose cage he had been thrown into.  

During a vicious 30-minute struggle the mouse tore at the serpent's head with its tiny paws and jaws, finally killing it.

The outcome amazed firemen in Nantou, Taiwan, who had rescued the footlong snake from a local home and taken it to their fire station as a pet.  

Fireman Lan Sengqiu said the snake might have used up all its venom trying to bite them when they caught it, adding: 'The mouse barely had a scratch on him.'  

Vipers have a pair of long hollow fangs, that are used to inject venom from glands at the back of the jaw.  

During a strike the mouth can open to nearly 180 degrees, and jaws snap shut on impact.  

Death is usually caused by a collapse in blood pressure from the venom.  

But snakes do have enemies. They can fall prey to large birds, wild boars, mongooses, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, other snakes. . . and apparently mice.

독사에게 점심용으로 쥐 한마리를 투척 했지만,오히려 상황이 반대로 흘러 갔다 하는군요.

약30분 동안 서로 투쟁을 하였지만 결국 쥐가 손톱과 이빨로 독사 머리를 갈기 찢어 났다 합니다.