The Lure of the Spider-Tailed Horned Viper

09:59

Meet the spider-tailed horned viper, native to western Iran. As the name suggests, the snake has a tail that, when moved about in the right way, looks like a spider crawling on a rock. The crawling “spider” attracts small birds who eat insects…and then the viper eats the birds:

Sweeeeeeet Fancy Moses! If an animal with venomous snake jaws on one end and a spider on the other isn’t everyone’s idea of a nightmare animal, I don’t know what is.

But what an incredible evolutionary adaptation. This mimicry is right up there with the bee orchid. (via @jasonfried)

Tags: video

from kottke.org http://bit.ly/2B9XKzx
via IFTTT

Share this

Related Posts

Previous
Next Post »