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Although the coloration of this group varies greatly, they are all largish butterflyfishes with an oval outline, and most have a pattern of ascending oblique stripes on the flanks. Except in the red-tailed butterflyfish, there is at least a vestigial form of the " raccoon " mask, with a white space between the dark crown and eye areas.
Many have eyespots on their flanks and dark bands across their eyes, not unlike the patterns seen on butterfly wings. [4] Their deep, laterally narrow bodies are easily noticed through the profusion of reef life. The conspicuous coloration of butterflyfish may be intended for interspecies communication.
Butterfly wing at different magnifications reveals microstructured chitin acting as diffraction grating. Main article: Structural coloration While many animals are unable to synthesize carotenoid pigments to create red and yellow surfaces, the green and blue colours of bird feathers and insect carapaces are usually not produced by pigments at ...
Close-up of fish melanophores. Fish coloration is produced through specialized cells called chromatophores. The dermal chromatophore is a basic color unit in amphibians, reptiles, and fish which has three cell layers: "the xanthophore (contains carotenoid and pteridine pigments), the iridophore (reflects color structurally), and the melanophore (contains melanin)". [5]
Greta oto is a species of brush-footed butterfly and member of the subfamily Danainae, tribe Ithomiini, and subtribe Godyridina.It is known by the common name glasswing butterfly for its transparent wings, which allow it to camouflage without extensive coloration.
The wings of Lepidoptera are minutely scaled, which gives the name to this order; the name Lepidoptera was coined in 1735 by Carl Linnaeus for the group of "insects with four scaly wings". It is derived from Ancient Greek lepis (λεπίς) meaning "(fish) scale" (and related to lepein "to peel") and pteron (πτερόν) meaning "wing". [37]
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Foureye butterflyfish usually frequent shallow inshore waters, where they feed on a variety of invertebrates, mainly zoantharians, sea anemones, scleractinians, [6] polychaete worms, gorgonians, tunicates, crustaceans and fish eggs. [7] This fish is known for its uncanny ability to swim in and around coral heads and reefs.