Iranian spider-tailed viper tricks bird

Pseudocerastes urarachnoides is known as “Iranian spider-tailed viper” because of its unique elaborated arachnid-like caudal snake, reported only in western Iran so far, uses its tail movements for defence and hunting. By moving the tip of the tail, the structure is reminiscent of a moving spider, luring potential prey. Credit: Avian deception using an elaborate caudal lure in Pseudocerastes urarachnoides (Serpentes: Viperidae) Behzad Fathinia; Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani; Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani; Fatemeh Todehdehghan and Fathollah Amiri Amphibia-Reptilia DOI: