Which snake uses a tail tip that resembles a spider to lure birds?

The snake that uses a spider-like tail tip to lure birds is the spider-tailed horned viper.

The spider-tailed horned viper, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, is a venomous viper known for a remarkable caudal lure. Its tail ends in an enlarged, bulb-like structure with elongated scales that give it a spider-like appearance. The snake moves this appendage near its head, apparently attracting birds within striking range.

This behavior is an example of aggressive mimicry: a predator resembles something harmless or attractive to its prey. The species lives in rocky western Iran, where its camouflage and ambush strategy suit arid mountain habitats. Its horn-like projection above each eye is characteristic of the genus Pseudocerastes.

The tail is not a real spider and does not function as a separate animal. The species is also not the same as the Persian horned viper, Pseudocerastes persicus, despite their similar names and overlapping regional distribution.