Rainforest Caterpillar Tricks Scientists with Snake Disguise

The rainforests of Central and South America are home to a remarkable creature that can disguise itself as a snake. A video shared by Earth Daily Shorts on Instagram shows what appears to be a snake, but it's actually a caterpillar.

This caterpillar, known as the 'snake caterpillar,' is in its final stage of life and will eventually become a hawk moth. When threatened, the caterpillar puffs up part of its body to mimic the triangular head and eyes of a snake, creating a convincing disguise.

Filipe DeAndrade, a filmmaker and host of National Geographic Wild's Untamed, filmed the caterpillar in Costa Rica while searching for it with a biologist. He described his first sighting as 'in complete and utter disbelief.' When he got too close, the caterpillar sensed his breath and jabbed at the air.

The snake caterpillar is not poisonous or dangerous to humans, but its ability to mimic a snake has left many amazed. National Geographic explains that when startled, these crawlers can instantaneously transform into snake-like creatures, rearranging their hidden spots and creating a convincing, serpentine curve.