Santa Cruz do Sul, Brasil, 1 Janeiro 2024

From this to that. De esto a eso.

Bromelia

The Bromeli Viperneck (Squamophytos cryptogeneos) is part of a very diverse group of ambush predatory varanids, many are ground dwelling and inhabit many of the environments that extend across the south American isolated continent, through this is one of few species that colonized the canopy of the tree, the most specialized as well thanks to their peculiar method of mimicry, most of the body remains unnoticeable for any potential prey as is colored like the branch it holds on but its tail has modified in a way it imitates a Bromelia plant, one of the many common arboreal species of plants that still hangs, they often attract pollinators of diverse forms, and so the Bromeli Viperneck takes advantage of its disguise more with a special musk that emit a similar odor to the plant helps to dissimulate further and so when, as it just stand still until a pollinator approach close to its tail, being ready it strikes with its long neck and inject a potent venom to kill fast the victim, providing a food that will last some months until it needs to feed again.

Dyckia ’Gandalf’

bromélia