http://teqmag.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-best-of-natures-disssssguises-youll.html
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.

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Sssscary: Unlike spiders that pose as less
predatory creatures, this caterpillar masquerades as a snake in an
attempt to scare away predators
THE SNAKE CATERPILLAR
The snake-like caterpillar grows into the moth Hemeroplanes triptolemus.
Its chest and wings are covered in scales and the moth feeds on nectar.
The sizeable creatures only live for between 10 and 30 days and can be found in Costa Rica, Belize Mexico and Guatemala.
In larval form, the species looks like a snake and even mimics its behaviour as it can harmlessly strike at potential predators.
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.

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Camouflaged: The green bug creates the illusion
of looking like a dangerous reptile by expanding parts at the end of its
body, which have marking to make it look like a snake's head

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A good mimic: As well as looking like a snake,
the cunning caterpillar even behaves a little like one. When it is a
larvae before transforming into a moth, the creature can strike in
defence if it is approached - even if it does not have the snake's
capability of administering a bite
Professor Janzen, who is a biologist at the University of Pennsylvania, photographed the insect while working in the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
‘To normal people this caterpillar might look weird and scary, but for me it's just a walk in the park,’ he said.
‘Every caterpillar in Costa Rica looks like something else - be it a leaf, twig or in this case, a slithering snake.

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Professor Janzen, who is a biologist at the
University of Pennsylvania, photographed the insect while working in the
Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (marked), Costa Rica

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Great pretender: Professor Janzen, who is
abiologist at the University of Pennsylvannia, said: 'Every caterpillar
in Costa Rica looks like something else - be it a leaf, twig or in this
case, a slithering snake'

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Just another strange insect: Professor Janzen
said: 'To normal people this caterpillar might look weird and scary, but
for me it's just a walk in the park'
‘Over the years I've seen and photographed so many different types of bugs I'm never surprised, but they always interest me.’
Professor Janzen has been tracking Costa Rica's species of caterpillar since 1978 and has been an insect expert for 50 years.
He
spends half a year at the university and the other half combing
habitats in Central America for unusual creatures, such as this
caterpillar.
A very creepy crawly: 'Over the years I've seen
and photographed so many different types of bugs I'm never surprised,
but they always interest me,' Professor Janzen said. From this angle,
the caterpillar looks slightly less like a snake
Hissss passion: The expert captured the images
as part of his work cataloguing caterpillars (pictured) and says it is
part of the hemeroplanes species
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