Which moth is famous for its caterpillar’s resemblance to a snake’s head?

The elephant hawk-moth is famous for its caterpillar’s resemblance to a snake’s head.

The species is scientifically named Deilephila elpenor and occurs across much of Europe and parts of Asia. Its caterpillar is commonly called the elephant hawk-moth caterpillar because its appearance has been compared to an elephant’s trunk, although its defensive front end can also look remarkably snake-like.

When disturbed, the caterpillar retracts its true head and inflates the front part of its body. Prominent eye-like markings become more noticeable, making the larva appear larger and more threatening to potential predators. These markings are not real eyes; they are visual signals used in defensive mimicry.

Adults are pink and olive-green, with a long proboscis suited to feeding from tubular flowers such as honeysuckle. The species is nocturnal, while the caterpillars are often found on rosebay willowherb and related plants. It is sometimes confused with other hawk moths, but Deilephila elpenor has a particularly recognizable pink-and-green adult pattern.