Finally met the snake mimic caterpillar! Larva of a sphinx hawk moth (Hemeroplanes triptolemus).This may look like a small snake hanging from a plant, but it is actually a harmless caterpillar.
source/image(PrtSc): Mark Bowler
The Snake-Mimic Caterpillar swings its body back to expose the underside of its body giving the appearance of a dangerous snake, complete with eye patches and white spots on it to mimic reflection on the eyes.
Sometimes it also strikes like a snake to deter predators such as lizards or birds.The anterior head-end body segments of the caterpillar inflate to form a diamond-shaped head, when fully inflated the “eyes” of the snake-like false head seem to open.
Advertisement
The moth is known from Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and probably flies throughout Central America into Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela and Guyana./wikipedia
