Spider-tailed horned viper: How the deadly snake tricks migrating birds

For a long time, researchers have found it difficult to believe that there is a Spider-tailed horned viper, an enormous snake with a spider-like tail. They thought the snake had a small spider clinging to her tail, or she had a tumour or parasite. 

Further observation revealed that the snake develops an abdomen-like knob at the tail’s as they grow. The venomous viper makes its tail look like a crawling arachnid with just wiggles and waggles.

At rest, spider-tailed horned vipers look innocuous. But as the bird or lizard falls for them, it becomes deadly exhibiting their impressive trickery. The effect will shock you considering how well they blend into its rocky habitat.

Spider-tailed horned viper coils up on limestone rock invisible to unsuspecting avians looking for prey. They spend one-third of their time wagging in ambush sites. As the bird comes near, the intensity of wagging increases by manifold.

While other snakes also use similar tail tactics to hunt, but Spider-tailed horned viper employs a sophisticated mimicry to find its meal. The viper moves nothing but the tip of its tail.

The migrating bird who isn’t familiar with the viper, takes it as a stray spider and approaches to prey on it. As the bird pecks at the spider-looking tail, the viper strikes.

The spider-tailed horned viper is found in western Iran, however, its population is rapidly declining.

 Spider-tailed horned viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides) is a viper species belonging to the family Viperidae and genus Pseudocerastes.

This information is not DNA's opinion but obtained from media reports