Snake That Mimics A Spider To Fool Its Prey

By: EjazUlHaqBhat Image Credit: Unsplash [{ "selector": ".egpei-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "80%"} ] }, { "selector": ".rcnux-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1000ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }, { "selector": ".srrzi-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }, { "selector": ".djgrw-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "2000ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }, { "selector": ".nmanc-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "3000ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }, { "selector": ".sqcno-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }, { "selector": ".upfzo-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The spider-tailed horned viper is a venomous snake with a unique tail that mimics a spider to lure prey

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The viper's tail has a bulb-like end with long, drooping scales that make it look like a spider

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The viper coils up on a rock and twitches its tail to make the "spider" move around. When the prey is distracted, the viper pounces

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The spider-tailed horned viper is native to western Iran and the border region with Iraq

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When the snake was first discovered, scientists thought the tail was a parasite, tumor, or deformity

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Baby snakes are born with normal tails, but as they grow, an abdomen-like knob develops at the end of the tail

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The scales also splay outward to resemble legs. Adult spider-tailed horned vipers are 55-86 cm long

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