XCT scans reveal how spider-tailed viper's lure differs from its skeleton

Scientists used X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scanning to study the unusually shaped tail of a spider-tailed viper. The scans revealed that the tail contains standard viper vertebrae despite its distinctive spider-like external appearance. This highlights how an organism's outward form can differ significantly from its internal skeletal structure. The findings also suggest that fossilized bones alone may not accurately represent how an animal looked in life. Researchers emphasized that museum specimens remain valuable tools for advancing biological understanding through modern imaging techniques.