What kind of creature is this?

Question

Has two heads, and three eyes, there are videos also, behaves rather like a snake. I saw this on Facebook today and have tried researching it myself, but I have had no luck.

theforestecologist · Answer 1 · 2021-12-09T19:31:22.353

45

This actually looks like a Gaudy Sphinx caterpillar (Eumorpha labruscae). It only mimics the appearance of a snake!

You can find more information about this species here.

Range: Argentina north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to Florida, Mississippi, South Texas, and Arizona. Strays to Missouri, southern Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maine, and southern Saskatchewan.

You can find more pictures here or videos here and here. Also the below gif (see whole video here) demonstrates the ability of this caterpillar to vibrate its tail end to -- as far as I can tell -- imitate a snake's rattle:

Below is a picture of an adult moth from UC Berkeley:

edited Dec 09 '21 at 19:31

answered Feb 25 '17 at 19:36

theforestecologist

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Wow that is freaking awesomeness!! That first pic is truly amazing. +1 – AliceD Feb 25 '17 at 23:40
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@AliceD Right?! Google "snake mimic caterpillar" to see some other really cool species! – theforestecologist Feb 26 '17 at 14:38
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Here is one of the cooler examples of snake mimicry! It even has a wiggling tail!! – theforestecologist Feb 28 '17 at 17:41

What kind of creature is this?

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