Luján Eroles is from Santa Fe, Argentina, and one morning while walking through her garden she came across a strange creature, approximately 10 centimeters long.
It looked like a snake with two heads and a mysterious blinking eye.
Not knowing what it was, he posted a video on Facebook asking for help identifying the strange creature. The video has 2.8 million views.
What animal is it?
When turned over, the creature revealed tiny legs underneath, leading some experts to believe it is a type of elephant hawk moth caterpillar.
The curious thing is that the elephant hawk moth is only found in Europe, while this creature was discovered in Argentina, so the type of species remains a mystery.
It’s therefore unlikely to be an elephant hawkmoth, but most hawkmoth caterpillars are known for disguising themselves as dangerous-looking creatures, such as snakes, to protect themselves from predators. This caterpillar also possesses this quality.
To avoid being eaten by other species before becoming moths or butterflies, many caterpillars resort to various disguises. This particular caterpillar was in Luján Eroles’s yard because it fed on the vineyards near the house and camouflaged itself to resemble a viper to scare off predators.
The caterpillar’s disguise tactics haven’t surprised the scientific community, but what about its blinking eye?
It’s also believed to be part of their disguise. It’s known as an anal horn, and it’s thought that while snakes don’t blink, this behavior helps the caterpillar mimic a more generalized eye.
With its techniques and disguise, the caterpillar manages to resemble a two-headed snake, a strange and mysterious creature, a tactic that helps ensure its survival. Amazing, don’t you think?
