The best of Nature's disssssguises you'll ever see: The caterpillar that looks and even acts like a

[Judi Lynn]

The best of Nature's disssssguises you'll ever see: The caterpillar that looks and even acts like a snake to scare off predators

Green caterpillar expands certain parts of its body so it looks like a snake

Hemeroplanes species behaves like the reptile in its larvae stage by striking harmlessly at predators so it does not get eaten

A biologist at the University of Pennsylvania photographed the unusual insect while working in the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica

By Sarah Griffiths

Published: 05:43 EST, 28 May 2014 | Updated: 10:40 EST, 28 May 2014

Some predatory spiders pose as ladybirds and even tree stumps to look as unthreatening as possible.But this caterpillar takes the opposite approach by masquerading as a snake in an attempt to scare away predators.

The vivid green 'snake caterpillar' creates the illusion of looking like a dangerous reptile by retracting its legs and expanding the end of its body, which have markings that look like eyes.



Professor Daniel Janzen captured the images as part of his work cataloguing caterpillars and says it is part of the hemeroplanes species.

As well as looking like a snake, the cunning caterpillar even behaves like one.

When in a larval state, before transforming into a moth, the creature can strike in defence if it is approached – even though it doesn't have a snake’s capability of administering a bite.

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2641537/The-best-disssssguise-Caterpillar-looks-acts-like-snake-scare-predators.html#ixzz331vjfRZy

[LaurenG]

1. This is exciting

I love him/her. It can strike in defence if it is approached – even though it doesn't have a snake’s capability of administering a bite.

[Tikki]

2. I admire Nature and find it's surprises more than often…beautiful.

Works for that little fellow..

Tikki

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Scary!

Does nothing for my fear of caterpillars.

[yallerdawg]

4. Now this makes you wonder...

how natural selection and survival of the fittest got to this?

I know there's an answer, this thing wasn't stored on the Ark, but it is so peculiar...

[ProfessorPlum]

8. A really good explanation for this kind of mimicry is found in "Climbing Mount Improbable"

by Richard Dawkins.

I'll try to do justice to it here. There are lots of caterpillars in a particular species, and they all look quite similar to each other, but each slightly little different. Some of them look a little tiny bit like snakes, if you see them in the dim light of dawn or dusk, or deep forest, or just catch a glimpse of them as you pass. That small difference in look makes predators pause, or pass them by, or back away at a just slightly higher rate than their brethren. They tend to live just a little bit longer, and mate and have more offspring. And so the population of caterpillars that look just a little bit like snakes grows larger. Their children all look just a little bit like snakes, but some of them are a little more green, or just slightly more bulgy, or happen to have a slight dark patch on their haunch. This, for some of them, makes the illusion just a little bit more convincing, giving them just a tiny edge against predators in low light, in marginal situations - but it is just enough or the effect to continue, over millions of generations, to create and select for mimicry that eventually is good enough to be very convincing indeed, in full light.

Evolution is so beautiful, and powerful, and amazing.

[yallerdawg]

9. Outstanding explanation. Thank you.

I had always wondered about the "freaks" of nature, and you have explained perfectly.

[ProfessorPlum]

13. Oh, wow, you're very welcome!

Thanks.

[bvar22]

5. Best one I have seen yet.

He would have fooled me.
Looks a lot like an African Green Mamba.

I started practicing this today.
Pretty soon, I should be able to look like Green Mamba too,
THEN I could get some respect!

[valerief]

6. Wow, now that's some impressive evolution! nt

[dickthegrouch]

7. Thanks for not showing a pic of the spiders you were talking about

I have no problem with snakes (although I'm sure you'll get requests for a bit more warning about the nature of the picture from those who do), but an unexpected pic of a spider could be severely detrimental to my blood pressure and overall well-being .

[calimary]

10. STUNNING!!!

As they say on Facebook - "I Fucking LOVE Science!"

[MynameisBlarney]

11. COOL!

Here's another cool one!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

14. holy crap, that's an even more amazing caterpillar than the ssssnakapillar

!!!!!!

[Solly Mack]

12. K&R