Page 61 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

STRANGE BUT TRUE! 59

The brown area that forms
the top of the “head” is CAMOUFLAGE CATERPILLARS
actually the caterpillar’s
underside—its legs are
visible if you look closely.

Caterpillars use every trick in the
book to deter an attack. Some resemble
unappealing bird droppings (above), while
others have false “eyespots” to make
themselves appear more threatening. Other
species develop prickly spines and hairy
clumps to look less appetizing to predators.

FAST FACTS

Clinging to a branch, the snake
mimic hawkmoth caterpillar
looks very ordinary.

If something alarms the
caterpillar, it throws itself
backward, twisting its body
to show its underside.
The caterpillar pulls in its
head and expands the front
part of its body to form
a realistic snake’s head.
The caterpillar then inflates
If this hawkmoth caterpillar feels threatened, the head-end of its
it immediately takes on snake-like characteristics and body to create
behavior. Pulling in its legs and head, the caterpillar a realistic-
adopts a slithering motion. Its underside grows larger, looking snake’s head.
giving the semblance of a snake’s head. The body is
large by caterpillar standards and covered in scales,
ensuring this species is one convincing masquerader.

US_058-059_309600_Snake_in_the_Grass.indd 59 19/12/17 12:56 pm