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Snake-Mimicking Caterpillar
14 years ago
General
Inane Rambling of a Demented Predator
Saw a very interesting caterpillar crossing the road today, so I backed up and moved him to safety. Quite large, four or so inches, fringed with fuzz to expertly conceal its outline , and a pleasant pale gray from head to tail, even the eyes. And the stump of a horn down at at its tail, and two red thin red horns on its 'shoulders'
But when disturbed it reared up, tucked its head down, and thus neatly opened two hidden creases in its neck, revealing the jet black skin beneath.
Thus it became a very good mimic of a snake. Complete with forked red tongue. Very startling, and I *knew* it was a caterpillar. Unlike your better known snake mimics, where the eye-spots are either side of the center-line, this one's jet-black false pupils were *behind* each other, so the snake head was sideways.
No idea what species it was, though :/ Entometa, possibly Entometa fervens :) http://www.aussiecreatures.net/inde.....?showimage=580 Thanks, Gotica :)
But when disturbed it reared up, tucked its head down, and thus neatly opened two hidden creases in its neck, revealing the jet black skin beneath.
Thus it became a very good mimic of a snake. Complete with forked red tongue. Very startling, and I *knew* it was a caterpillar. Unlike your better known snake mimics, where the eye-spots are either side of the center-line, this one's jet-black false pupils were *behind* each other, so the snake head was sideways.
No idea what species it was, though :/ Entometa, possibly Entometa fervens :) http://www.aussiecreatures.net/inde.....?showimage=580 Thanks, Gotica :)
