Stinky Caterpillar Looks Like a Snake With a Fleshy, Forked Tongue

Plants and Animals





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The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) caterpillar with fully everted osmeterium is pictured from Bradford County, Florida / Edith Smith (Shady Oak Butterfly Farm)

Eastern tiger swallowtails, as their name suggests, have vivid orange and black stripes. These showy butterflies are so popular in the eastern U.S., they’re the state insect of five states. But their caterpillars, on the other hand, are fierce-looking stinkers. They’re disguised as stubby snakes with a big, fake green head, markings that look like black and yellow eyes, and (the best part) a forked, fleshy orange tongue.