What venomous snake uses a spider-like tail tip to lure birds?

The spider-tailed horned viper uses its spider-like tail tip to lure birds. Its scientific name is Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, a venomous viper found mainly in western Iran and nearby eastern Iraq.

The tail ends in a bulb-like structure surrounded by elongated, drooping scales. When the snake moves this appendage, it resembles a small spider crawling across the rocks. This is an example of aggressive mimicry: the disguise attracts prey rather than deterring predators. Insect-eating birds may approach the apparent spider and come within striking range.

The species was formally described in 2006, although a specimen collected in Iran in 1968 had long been mistaken for another false-horned viper. Its habitat includes rocky areas of the Zagros Mountains, where camouflage helps it ambush prey. The “horned” part of its name refers to the raised scales above its eyes, not to any connection with horned mammals or insects.

It is easy to confuse this snake with other vipers that perform caudal luring, or tail-wagging to attract prey. What makes this species exceptional is the unusually elaborate spider imitation at the end of its tail.