A spider on the tailSourced
The apparent spider is part of a snake
This viper from western Iran and neighbouring areas has a swollen tail tip fringed by elongated scales that resemble spider legs. It moves the tail while its body remains concealed, attracting insect-eating birds. Field studies have confirmed its use as a lure for catching birds.
The bird’s apparent prey is part of the predator.
Summary / translation: Unbubly · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Spider-tailed horned viper · Wikimedia contributors
Adapted, summarized and translated from the source. Adapted text is also available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reviewed: 2026-10-10