OWL BUTTERFLY IS A MYSTERY OF NATURE
how can something so good show up randomly? why does thy owl-eye-like pattern exist? there are different opinions about this topic. The first one sets out that what we, as human beings, see as an owl-eye is nothing but a decoy. it will attract the predator, making it bite the bright black spot which looks more nourishing (protein-rich meal) as compared with the rest of the body. the actual butterfly-body will be safe even if it has lost a part of the wing. This doesn't convince me because , if it were so, the spot would have been on the edge of the wing to minimize the trauma.
The second one is linked to evolution and natural selection. This theory sets out that this pattern would scary away animals which eat owl-butterfly because their predators are owls. I do not understand how come that pattern is so perfect? how can something so good show up randomly in natural selection, generation after generation? why does the owl-eye-like pattern exist? it doesn't add up that in the past one butterfly for a random mutation of its wing showed a different pattern which looked like an owl eye. that mutation could have changed something on its wing but as long as it didn't have a perfect eye-shape, the predators should not have recognized it and should not have been scared away. I want to know what you think.
this is a very interesting topic, luca. in fact I've always found butterflies quite interesting and some how scar looking. yeah, I wonder why the owl-eye is there for? nature has always her own mysteries.
ReplyDeletethe mystery behind this animal is even deeper. Don't you think that, generation after generation, even the predators must have developed a skill to recognize those butterflies? the evolution is for everyone.
ReplyDeletei've heard that some scientists also believe that the eyes could be there to make the butterfly look like a disgusting tree frog, which many predators wouldn't even think about eating.
ReplyDeletebut i don't know. doesnt look like a frog to me. haha. i think it might look a bit less tempting to eat though, with the eyes instead of a regular butterfly pattern.
very interesting. i think this butterfly is absolutely magic. see if u can find n read The lepidoctor by Mick Jackson. it s only a short story but maybe u ll like it.
ReplyDelete