Wild Things: Great Whites, Tree Snakes, Drongos and More
These animals redefine life as we know it
- By T.A. Frail, Megan Gambino, Jesse Rhodes, Jess Righthand and Sarah Zielinski
- Smithsonian magazine, February 2011
(Jayne Yack)
North America’s walnut sphinx caterpillar employs a newly discovered defense when under attack: it whistles. Researchers from Canada’s Carleton University and elsewhere found that it forces air through tiny abdominal openings called spiracles, producing high-frequency sounds barely audible to people. In laboratory tests, the alarm startled birds and made them fly away.
Learn more about the walnut sphinx at the Encyclopedia of Life.
Additional Sources
"Whistling in caterpillars (Amorpha juglandis, Bombycoidea): sound-producing mechanism and function," Veronica L. Bura et al., Journal of Experimental Biology, December 8, 2010
"Mechanics of biting in great white and sandtiger sharks," T. L. Ferrara et al., Journal of Biomechanics, December 3, 2010
"Non-equilibrium trajectory dynamics and the kinematics of gliding in a flying snake," John J. Socha et al., Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, November 24, 2010
"Singing for your supper: sentinel calling by kleptoparasites can mitigate the cost to victims," Andrew N. Radford et al., Evolution, November 18, 2010
"Why does Viola hondoensis (Violaceae) shed its winter leaves in spring?" Kouki Hikosaka et al., American Journal of Botany, November 15, 2010
Comments (7)
I thought the Nile crocodile had the strongest bite force?
Posted by Marcus on January 19,2012 | 08:20 PM
I thought this was called a Tomato Hornworm that will someday transform into the Humming Bird Moth. Is this another name for this worm? I found many on our tomato plants and took pictures.
Thank you.
Posted by Connie Koehler on August 12,2011 | 09:06 AM
heyy nice video how do i wach another video like the bird or the shark????
Posted by mattie on July 26,2011 | 11:23 AM
I agree with Betty Arndts. Same thing happened to me on Sunday April 10, 2011.
Sure would like to see that snake fly.........
Posted by Ann Shew on April 10,2011 | 04:48 PM
How amazing! How does the snake make a fail-proof landing after sailing 330 ft in the air? It must have a built-in radar or sonar beam to get it to a safe landing. A spectacular photo!
Posted by Audrey Synnott on February 5,2011 | 12:28 PM
Betty,
To see the video please click to the right of the screen under "Video Gallery" No Need for a Plane, This Snake Can Fly. You can also see the video here:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/No-Need-for-a-Plane-This-Snake-Can-Fly.html
The Editors
Posted by The Editors on January 25,2011 | 09:59 AM
The Smithsonian magazine article (Feb. 2011) said I could watch the snake fly. I only see a still picture! No flight!
Posted by Betty Arndts on January 24,2011 | 09:39 PM