Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in March 2017.
In a captivating twist of nature, a woman’s viral video showcasing a snake-like creature with “two heads, three eyes, and weird skin” has taken the internet by storm, amassing over 19 million views. The peculiar dark brown and white striped entity resembled a stubby snake, sporting a head at each end and a single “blinking eye.” However, the mystery deepened when the creature was flipped over with a stick, revealing several tiny, wiggling legs underneath.
Seeking answers, Lujan Eroles turned to her Facebook friends, sharing videos and a photo of the enigmatic creature discovered in the courtyard behind her Santa Fe, Argentina home. The inquiry swiftly gained traction, being shared by more than 180,000 people with thousands offering their suggestions and guesses.
Among the speculations, one Facebook user humorously suggested it could be a Pokémon, while another ventured a guess that it might be a peculiar worm with one head and a tail. The viral video’s suspense lingered until, after more than a month, Eroles received the revelation: the creature was a hawk moth caterpillar.
National Geographic highlights the intriguing behavior of hawk moth caterpillars, which adopt a snake-like appearance as a defense mechanism against potential predators. As these caterpillars undergo metamorphosis, the transformation involves significant changes in their body structure, including the accumulation of body fat, making them more appealing to predators.
When feeling threatened, the hawk moth caterpillar can expand its tail to mimic a snake’s head, a tactic likely employed when Eroles approached the creature. This transformation serves to scare off potential predators and protect the caterpillar from harm.
In a clever adaptation, the caterpillar changes its appearance to avoid detection by birds, deploying a strategy where it can turn the tables on its predator. Katy Prudic, an entomologist at the University of Arizona, likens the caterpillar to a hot dog that surprises predators by morphing into a snake-like form, causing the predator to drop the prey or flee.
The caterpillar’s “blinking eye” plays a crucial role in its disguise. When approached or harassed, the caterpillar can create the illusion of a blinking eye, a tactic explained in a paper from the Journal of Natural History. This “blinking” serves as an extension of eye mimicry, startling or intimidating potential predators.
While Eroles initially found the creature frightening, the reality is that the caterpillar appears more dangerous than it actually is – a testament to its evolutionary strategy aimed at survival in the wild. The mesmerizing wonders of nature continue to unfold, captivating millions through this unique viral phenomenon.
