1. Map frog (Hypsiboas geographicus):
2. Glass frog (Vitreorana ritae):
3. Backlit ovipositing katydid:
4. An inquisitive anole:
5. Scorpion under UV light:
6. Cryptic lichen katydid:
7. Mating clearwing butterflies (Cithaerias sp.).
Transparency in the clear- or glasswings is thought to confuse would-be predators. A paper in Nature Communications from 2015 https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms7909
illustrates the novel way in which random nano-sculpturing of the scales allows for the passage of light with little reflectance over essentially all viewing angles, a pretty remarkable feat.
8. Moss masquerading stick insect:
9. Camouflaged stick insect:
10. Baby leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae):
Thanks for looking and commenting,
Paul
Yasuni national park part VII
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
Another lovely set - all fascinating. Thanks.
Ref: your comment about the Clearwing butterflies. I photographed one at a butterfly house (just handheld macro) and assumed the transparency was due to the absence of scales. Are the wings actually covered in scales like a normal butterfly wings? Even more amazing if they are
Edit: just read the paper you linked (assumed it would be behind a paywall at first, so I didn't follow it). The transparent regions just contain "nano hairs" not scales with "nano-pillars" in the membrane to aid transparency of the membrane over a wide viewing angle. That makes more sense (and still pretty amazing).
Ref: your comment about the Clearwing butterflies. I photographed one at a butterfly house (just handheld macro) and assumed the transparency was due to the absence of scales. Are the wings actually covered in scales like a normal butterfly wings? Even more amazing if they are
Edit: just read the paper you linked (assumed it would be behind a paywall at first, so I didn't follow it). The transparent regions just contain "nano hairs" not scales with "nano-pillars" in the membrane to aid transparency of the membrane over a wide viewing angle. That makes more sense (and still pretty amazing).
Last edited by Beatsy on Thu Jan 18, 2018 7:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
- MarkSturtevant
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If you're an insect and you can manage it, what better place to camouflage yourself and to hide but in a lichen. I have one spider here, about the size of a half dollar coin, that does a pretty good job in hiding itself among the lichens. You would not notice it until you had placed your hand on it. Somewhat aggressive but will turn and run if you persist in prodding at it.
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