Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio dardanus)
Swallowtails differ from all other butterflies in a number of anatomical traits. Most notably, their caterpillars possess a unique organ behind their heads, called the osmeterium. Normally hidden, this forked structure can be everted when the caterpillar is threatened, and used to emit a foul-smelling secretion containing terpenes.
Size: 3494px × 5242px
Photo credit: © Liquid Light / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: african, antennae, broen, butterfly, colorful, colourful, dardanus, dimorphism, ecology, exotic, insect, leaf, lepidoptera, lifecycle, metamorphosis, nature, papilio, papilionidae, pattern, probosis, swallowtail, tropical, wings, zoology
