Leaf-mimicking katydid (Orophus tesselatus):
A rare genetic mutation called 'erythrism' confers the pink colouration.
usually these individuals are picked off young, since they lack the camouflage typical of the species which is normally variable but mostly green, brown and yellow. The mutation is akin to albinism in humans.
Leaf-mimicking katydid (Orophus tesselatus) yellow colour variant:
Blue and purple hunting centipede (Scolopendra sp.):
Scorpion with prey under UV light:
Orange huntsman spider with frog prey:
Green anole:
Glass frog (Proseblon sp.):
Hairy tarantula (Psalmopoeus sp.):
Thanks for looking and commenting,
Paul
Bilsa reserve, Ecuador
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
Nice, interesting images as always Paul. I especially like the anole and scolopendra, very nice!
Thought I'd pass on a comment for the image labeled "orange huntsman spider with frog prey" (Huntsman=Sprassidae). To me the eye pattern, position and relative front leg lengths and abdomen shape identifies it as a Ctenidae sp..
Keep up the great work, always enjoy your posts.
Caddo
Thought I'd pass on a comment for the image labeled "orange huntsman spider with frog prey" (Huntsman=Sprassidae). To me the eye pattern, position and relative front leg lengths and abdomen shape identifies it as a Ctenidae sp..
Keep up the great work, always enjoy your posts.
Caddo
Wonderfull and fascinating pictures - again.
Troels
Troels
Troels Holm, biologist (retired), environmentalist, amateur photographer.
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I followed up the red/pink Katydid - Wikipedia says it's a dominant mutation,
Someone else says it's a recessive gene like albinism.
Those pinks and reds look suspiciously different to me, though there are "over 6400 recorded species".
"Rare" here means 1 in 500 (though many may be preferentially predated). That would make it a mutation - to be a "morph" (same gene, different allele or expression) it would have to be more than 1%. At least it would for frogs which I've been reading about - (also Paul B's fault!).
Someone else says it's a recessive gene like albinism.
Those pinks and reds look suspiciously different to me, though there are "over 6400 recorded species".
"Rare" here means 1 in 500 (though many may be preferentially predated). That would make it a mutation - to be a "morph" (same gene, different allele or expression) it would have to be more than 1%. At least it would for frogs which I've been reading about - (also Paul B's fault!).
Chris R