Scans reveal how Iran’s spider-tailed viper’s unusual lure is built

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  Scans of a museum specimen reveal the structure of the spider-tailed horned viper’s unusual lure.

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  The rare snake, endemic to western Iran, twitches its tail to attract prey while keeping its body still.

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  The tail tip consists of enlarged, elongated and modified scales, according to the study’s lead author.

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  Researchers published a high-resolution 3D scan of the snake’s tail in 2026.

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  A herpetologist not involved in the study said the findings support the idea that the lure evolved gradually.

Who

Researchers studying the spider-tailed horned viper, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides.

What

Scans revealed that its tail lure is made of enlarged, elongated and modified scales.

When

The high-resolution 3D scan was published in 2026.

Where

The snake is endemic to western Iran; the scanned specimen is kept at the Field Museum of Natural History in Illinois, United States.

Why

The study examined the structure of the tail mechanism; the snake uses its tail to lure prey.

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