10 Deadly Tricksters of the Animal World
Monday, January 17, 2011
, Posted by Tyree at 10:17 AM
Being a predator is not easy. Many of them have to chase after their prey; they succeed only once in a while, and often waste valuable energies in the process. They may even risk being injured or killed by potential prey. Some predators, however, have developed special, and often incredible, techniques and adaptations that allow them to trick their prey so that they never suspect any danger until it is too late. I give you 10 of these deadly tricksters of the animal world.
10
Cantil
Found in Mexico and Central America, this snake belongs to the pitviper subfamily, and is closely related to the cottonmouth and copperhead vipers from the southern United States.
They are highly venomous; their bite causes necrosis, hemorrhage and even renal failure; victims who dont receive any medical attention after a cantil bite are likely to die in a few hours.
But these pit vipers prefer to save their venom for their prey. They feed on any small animal they can catch, from birds and frogs to lizards and small mammals.
Unlike fast-moving elapids such as cobras and mambas, the Cantil has a short, heavy body and cant chase quickly after prey. Instead, it uses a clever trick to lure their victims into attack range.
Its tail has a bright yellow or whitish tip, and the snake can move its tail so that it resembles a wriggling worm. Since many of its favorite prey feed on worms, they are tricked into approaching or even attacking the lure, and then the snake can strike and inject its deadly venom on the unsuspecting would-be predator. Although Cantil vipers are not the only snakes that use their tail to trick prey, they are possibly the best known for it.
Because of their yellow or white tail, in some parts of Mexico and Central America these snakes are often called rabo de hueso, which means bone tail, because, since the rest of the snakes body is dark colored, it looks as if the tail had been stripped of its skin. Other snakes known to use the same hunting technique, called caudal luring by scientists, are the North American copperhead, the Australian death adder and the Dumeril boa from Madagascar.
9
Alligator snapping turtle
This infamous predator is the largest freshwater turtle in North America; it can weigh up to 100 kgs or more, and lives in southern US lakes, rivers and swamps. Although armed with powerful jaws and sharp claws, the alligator snapper is still a turtle, after all, and cant chase after prey at high speed. Instead, it uses a hunting technique very similar to that of the Cantil pit viper.
It lies motionless in the water, looking very much like a harmless rock, with its jaws wide open. Its tongue has a fleshy appendage that looks much like a worm, and the turtle can move this appendage to make it even more worm-like. Small fish, frogs and even other turtles are often fooled into believing that they found dinner, but as soon as they enter the gator snappers jaws to attack the worm, the turtle closes its mouth with tremendous force, instantly killing its prey.
This clever technique works best during day, when prey can clearly see the fake worm. At night, the turtle actively walks on the lake or river bottom, feeding on whatever slow moving or dead animal it can find.
8
Wobbegong
Wobbegongs are among the strangest, most fascinating sharks. They are most commonly seen in Australia, which is where they got their name (meaning shaggy beard in the Australian aboriginal language).
These sharks are slow moving and dont chase after prey. Instead, they stay motionless in the sea bottom, relying on camouflage to hide themselves from both potential prey and predators.
The strange, fleshy appendages around the Wobbegongs mouth serve a double purpose; to break up the sharks silhouette, thus improving its camouflage, and to lure small fish and other animals into the sharks reach.
One Wobbegong species, however, uses a more active luring technique. In fact, it is the same technique used by the Cantil pit viper. By flicking its tail, the Tasseled Wobbegong tricks smaller fish into its attack range. Being extremely flexible, the Wobbegong can easily turn around in a fraction of a second and devour any fish that tries to take a closer look at its tail.
The Tasseled Wobbegongs tail even has a slightly forked tip and a dark spot resembling an eye, to make the lure even more fish-like. Although the largest Wobbegong species can grow up to 3.5 meters long, they dont see humans as prey and will only bite if harassed.
7
Anglerfish
Anglerfish are deep-water fish, widely known because of their monstrous appearance and freaky reproductive habits. They are also the most famous of all lure-using predators. Interestingly, only the females have lures; these are actually modified dorsal spines which protrude above the fishs mouth like a fishing pole. At the tip of the spine there is a bulb-like organ which contains luminous bacteria, producing a blue-green glow similar to that of a firefly.
Because the anglerfishs skin absorbs blue light instead of reflecting it, the lure is the only thing other deep sea creatures can see; the predator remains invisible in the darkness. When a hapless fish or invertebrate approaches the lure, the anglerfish swallows it whole. Its stomach and bones are very flexible allowing the fish to devour prey up to twice its own size!
6
Tentacled snake
Already mentioned in the 10 Unusual and Amazing Snakes list, the tentacled snake is found in South Eastern Asia and is a fully aquatic species that feeds mostly on fish. Its most notable feature are the strange fleshy tentacles on its snout. These tentacles are actually highly sensitive mechanosensors, which allow the snake to detect movement in the water and strike at any unfortunate fish that swims nearby. Another interesting trait is the tentacled snakes incredible attack speed; it takes only 15 milliseconds for the snake to capture its prey. But fish have incredible reflexes and a fast strike is not enough sometimes, so the tentacled snake uses a clever trick to make fish swim towards danger. When the fish approaches, the snake slightly ripples its body towards it. The fish immediately darts in the opposite direction but this is what the tentacled snake expects, so it angles its head so that the fish swims directly into its waiting jaws.
10
Cantil
Found in Mexico and Central America, this snake belongs to the pitviper subfamily, and is closely related to the cottonmouth and copperhead vipers from the southern United States.
They are highly venomous; their bite causes necrosis, hemorrhage and even renal failure; victims who dont receive any medical attention after a cantil bite are likely to die in a few hours.
But these pit vipers prefer to save their venom for their prey. They feed on any small animal they can catch, from birds and frogs to lizards and small mammals.
Unlike fast-moving elapids such as cobras and mambas, the Cantil has a short, heavy body and cant chase quickly after prey. Instead, it uses a clever trick to lure their victims into attack range.
Its tail has a bright yellow or whitish tip, and the snake can move its tail so that it resembles a wriggling worm. Since many of its favorite prey feed on worms, they are tricked into approaching or even attacking the lure, and then the snake can strike and inject its deadly venom on the unsuspecting would-be predator. Although Cantil vipers are not the only snakes that use their tail to trick prey, they are possibly the best known for it.
Because of their yellow or white tail, in some parts of Mexico and Central America these snakes are often called rabo de hueso, which means bone tail, because, since the rest of the snakes body is dark colored, it looks as if the tail had been stripped of its skin. Other snakes known to use the same hunting technique, called caudal luring by scientists, are the North American copperhead, the Australian death adder and the Dumeril boa from Madagascar.
9
Alligator snapping turtle
This infamous predator is the largest freshwater turtle in North America; it can weigh up to 100 kgs or more, and lives in southern US lakes, rivers and swamps. Although armed with powerful jaws and sharp claws, the alligator snapper is still a turtle, after all, and cant chase after prey at high speed. Instead, it uses a hunting technique very similar to that of the Cantil pit viper.
It lies motionless in the water, looking very much like a harmless rock, with its jaws wide open. Its tongue has a fleshy appendage that looks much like a worm, and the turtle can move this appendage to make it even more worm-like. Small fish, frogs and even other turtles are often fooled into believing that they found dinner, but as soon as they enter the gator snappers jaws to attack the worm, the turtle closes its mouth with tremendous force, instantly killing its prey.
This clever technique works best during day, when prey can clearly see the fake worm. At night, the turtle actively walks on the lake or river bottom, feeding on whatever slow moving or dead animal it can find.
8
Wobbegong
Wobbegongs are among the strangest, most fascinating sharks. They are most commonly seen in Australia, which is where they got their name (meaning shaggy beard in the Australian aboriginal language).
These sharks are slow moving and dont chase after prey. Instead, they stay motionless in the sea bottom, relying on camouflage to hide themselves from both potential prey and predators.
The strange, fleshy appendages around the Wobbegongs mouth serve a double purpose; to break up the sharks silhouette, thus improving its camouflage, and to lure small fish and other animals into the sharks reach.
One Wobbegong species, however, uses a more active luring technique. In fact, it is the same technique used by the Cantil pit viper. By flicking its tail, the Tasseled Wobbegong tricks smaller fish into its attack range. Being extremely flexible, the Wobbegong can easily turn around in a fraction of a second and devour any fish that tries to take a closer look at its tail.
The Tasseled Wobbegongs tail even has a slightly forked tip and a dark spot resembling an eye, to make the lure even more fish-like. Although the largest Wobbegong species can grow up to 3.5 meters long, they dont see humans as prey and will only bite if harassed.
7
Anglerfish
Anglerfish are deep-water fish, widely known because of their monstrous appearance and freaky reproductive habits. They are also the most famous of all lure-using predators. Interestingly, only the females have lures; these are actually modified dorsal spines which protrude above the fishs mouth like a fishing pole. At the tip of the spine there is a bulb-like organ which contains luminous bacteria, producing a blue-green glow similar to that of a firefly.
Because the anglerfishs skin absorbs blue light instead of reflecting it, the lure is the only thing other deep sea creatures can see; the predator remains invisible in the darkness. When a hapless fish or invertebrate approaches the lure, the anglerfish swallows it whole. Its stomach and bones are very flexible allowing the fish to devour prey up to twice its own size!
6
Tentacled snake
Already mentioned in the 10 Unusual and Amazing Snakes list, the tentacled snake is found in South Eastern Asia and is a fully aquatic species that feeds mostly on fish. Its most notable feature are the strange fleshy tentacles on its snout. These tentacles are actually highly sensitive mechanosensors, which allow the snake to detect movement in the water and strike at any unfortunate fish that swims nearby. Another interesting trait is the tentacled snakes incredible attack speed; it takes only 15 milliseconds for the snake to capture its prey. But fish have incredible reflexes and a fast strike is not enough sometimes, so the tentacled snake uses a clever trick to make fish swim towards danger. When the fish approaches, the snake slightly ripples its body towards it. The fish immediately darts in the opposite direction but this is what the tentacled snake expects, so it angles its head so that the fish swims directly into its waiting jaws.
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