In a feat of ingenious costuming, the wily toad has learned to impersonate the venomous Gaboon viper to fool predators. Predators avoid the toad far more often than other species, researchers said, even though its size and caloric value make it an enticing meal. A snake and a toad look alike from aboveThe Gaboon viper is the largest of its kind in all of Africa at more than 6 feet long and 45 pounds. Predators instinctively avoid the Gaboon viper, so it's smart camouflage for the frog. "But when something like a Gaboon viper is that dangerous, the most visually based predators are probably going to make the calculation-- 'Gosh, if it even looks close to a Gaboon viper, I'm not going to touch it.'"

Source: CNN October 21, 2019 16:52 UTC