Snake uses fake spider tail to hunt birds in Iran
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In Iran, the spider-tailed horned viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides) attracts birds by wiggling a tail that resembles a spider.
Scientists first collected a specimen of this snake in 1968, initially believing a tail abnormality was a tumor. Researchers at the Field Museum in Chicago and the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków recently studied the snake’s unique tail using X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans.
The team discovered that the snake’s tailbones are typical for vipers, meaning the spider-like appearance is only a surface-level feature. This camouflage helps the viper lure in birds, which it then ambushes and eats. Scientists described the snake as a new species in 2006, using the museum specimen as a reference for its physical characteristics. Researchers noted that studying the spider-tailed horned viper’s tail offered a chance to learn more about viper vertebrae, which are not well understood.
The XCT scans allowed them to examine the snake’s interior without damaging the rare specimen. The study highlights that skeletal remains don’t always reveal the full story of an animal’s appearance or behavior, and that museum collections remain valuable for ongoing research.
