Home LIFE The Snake-Mimic Caterpillar – A Harmless Caterpillar That Turns Into a Snake!

The Snake-Mimic Caterpillar – A Harmless Caterpillar That Turns Into a Snake!

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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.

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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

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