4 ms·
Are butterflies really two animals in one?
- JoeAltmaier 14y agotl;dr: no
- gus_massa 14y agoThis article doesn't have any scientific base. Insect have exoskeleton so they can't grow like ducks or bats. They have to make a series of metamorphosis to grow. Usually the form for change from one stage to the next step, because they are adapted to different lifestyle. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis#Insect_metamorphosis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis#Insect_metamorpho... Butterflies are one of the most well known and extremes cases of changes. The caterpillar shape is adapted to eat a lot and be camouflaged, the butterfly shape is adapted to travel and mate. (Both shapes share the same general blueprint. For example, if you see a caterpillar carefully, it has only 6 small real legs in the front, and some prolegs in the back.)
- arde 14y agoIndeed. Furthermore a study has found that moth's memories are retained from one stage to the other (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080305-moth-memory.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080305-moth-...).