And the winner for the top spot in imitating invertebrates is Hemeroplanes triptolemus! This amazing creature has been recognized for its incredible talent in mimicking a deadly snake.
Photographed by Andreas Kay, the snake mimic caterpillar is a remarkable creature found in the lush rainforests of the Amazon. While it may transform into a rather unassuming moth in the Sphingidae family, its larval stage features a fascinating survival strategy. With predators lurking in the jungle, the caterpillar needs to be on high alert – otherwise, it might become a tasty treat on a plate of greens.
To protect itself, this clever caterpillar expands and reveals its underside, creating the illusion of a snake’s head complete with dark eyes and even shimmering reflections. This crafty disguise helps the caterpillar evade danger and live to see another day in the vibrant rainforest.
In the world of caterpillars, putting on a show to scare off predators is no easy task. When threatened, the caterpillar goes into defense mode by contorting its body to reveal vibrant colors on its underside. It then cleverly inflates its segments by drawing in air through spiracles, giving it the appearance of a venomous snake with a menacing diamond-shaped “face” and big, black eyes. If that’s not enough to ward off a predator, the caterpillar might even mimic the striking behavior of a snake to further intimidate its foe.
While it’s common for animals to use deflection tactics, where eyespots are used to distract predators from attacking vital body parts, the snake mimic caterpillar takes it a step further by having a false face on the same end as its real one.
According to Dr. Thomas Hossie, an expert on eyespots, deflection may not be as effective for caterpillars since any damage to their body could be fatal. The caterpillar’s false face is all about scaring off predators and avoiding a deadly confrontation, rather than risking injury in a fight.
Picture credit: Andreas Kay
Image credit: Reinaldo Aguilar.
This photo, taken by Andreas Kay, showcases an intriguing moth that cleverly disguises itself as a snake once fully grown. The energy cost of maintaining this disguise is quite high for this unique creature. However, it appears that this moth outshines all other animals in the animal kingdom with its impeccable snake costume.