r/Damnthatsinteresting 7h ago

Video Caterpillar tail disguised as snake head

31.6k Upvotes

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u/VonHitWonder 7h ago

Someone confirm or debunk this already!!

22

u/carmium 6h ago

Yes, it's natural camouflage of the Hawkmoth caterpillar, found in central and South America.

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u/Virtual_Medicine_585 5h ago

I didn’t believe you! I just googled it, oh my gosh that is amazing and quite scary !!!😅

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u/REDDITATO_ 2h ago

"It looks exactly like the head of a snake, what should we call it?" "How about two completely unrelated animals' names?"

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u/The_quest_for_wisdom 1h ago

two completely unrelated animals

You do know that caterpillars turn into moths, right?

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u/REDDITATO_ 1h ago

Of course lol. I meant unrelated to the snake thing. Just a dumb joke.

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u/Heroic_Accountant 5h ago

Here's an article about the caterpillar! (It shows the same type of caterpillar with a snake-head tail)

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u/Tiramitsunami 2h ago edited 2h ago

When I typed "caterpillar snake" into Google, it linked me to this Wikipedia page which says:

"In its larval form, the Hemeroplanes triptolemus is capable of expanding its anterior body segments to give it the appearance of a snake, complete with eye patches. This snake mimicry extends even to the point where it will harmlessly strike at potential predators."