Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6jx85yvedpukban/VRP4399.mp4?dl=0
This is the amusing moment a cheeky caterpillar pretending to be a snake shocked a passing hiker in Mexico.
Olivia Tolentino was hiking at a mountain in Campeche province on October 18 when she found the insect.
The biologist walked under a tree for shade and noticed something moving above.
She was startled at first because she thought it was a disturbed snake, but it turned out to be a little caterpillar with an over-sized head pretending to be a reptile.
Olivia said: ‘It was too cute and fierce at the same time. I took a video of it to show to my friends.’
The insect was a Hemeroplanes triptolemus caterpillar. They are capable of expanding their bodies to create segments to give the appearance of a snake, complete with eye patches.
Its snake mimicry extends even to the point where it will harmlessly strike at potential predators.