In the mountains of Iran, a flycatcher scans the area for something to eat – and spots a spider in a crevice. But unfortunately for the bird, it isn't actually a spider: it's something far more dangerous (and venomous).
This bizarre attack is actually an evolutionary adaptation of the spider-tailed horned viper (which we named one of the weirdest snakes in the world), which belongs to a genus of snakes commonly known as 'false-horned vipers'.
- Spider-tailed horned viper: meet the "snake in spider's clothing" that fools its prey into a shocking death
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The viper's tail is bulb-like with drooping scales, giving it the appearance of a spider. The spider-horned viper uses its tail to trick and lure in birds, then strikes with its venomous bite – with the rest of its body well-camouflaged against the rocks.
While the viper's venom is highly-specialised for birds, its affect on humans isn't currently known. So we don't suggest being the first to find out...
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Top image: a spider-tailed horned viper. Credit: Getty