It has two big “eye marks” behind its head, making predators think it’s bigger than it is.
The snake-like caterpillar, with no normal defenses, uses mimicry to survive. By looking like a snake, a scary and venomous thing, it keeps predators away. This shows how smart species are at evolving to stay safe in their habitats.
Eroles’ chance meeting with the caterpillar not only amazed her and her neighbors, it also shows the amazing biodiversity in nature. The unique mimicry gives us a peek at the complex ways organisms survive.