Limenitis chrysalides

[lamprima2]

Does anyone have any info on the structure and possible
function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of
Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other
Limenitis species as well.

DSC_4383 IN.jpg (443.54 KiB) Viewed 423 times

[livingplanet3]

Does anyone have any info on the structure and possible
function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of
Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other
Limenitis species as well...

As both the larvae and chrysalides are bird dropping mimics, perhaps this projection serves to give a more irregular shape, augmenting the effect?

[kevinkk]

Does anyone have any info on the structure and possible
function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of
Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other
Limenitis species as well...

As both the larvae and chrysalides are bird dropping mimics, perhaps this projection serves to give a more irregular shape, augmenting the effect?

As good as guess as any. There are moth larva that mimic bird droppings, but moths spin cocoons or burrow, so don't need the camo decor butterflies
do. Other butterfly pupae have projections and unusual shapes, as compared to the hidden moth pupaes.

[lamprima2]

Does anyone have any info on the structure and possible
function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of
Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other
Limenitis species as well...

As both the larvae and chrysalides are bird dropping mimics, perhaps this projection serves to give a more irregular shape, augmenting the effect?

This is certainly possible, however, other species of this genus, apparently, do not mimic the bird poo, while possess the same weird structure: see the photos of L. reducta (mimicking a dry leaf) and L. populi (mimicking God knows what). These photographs are taken from the Internet.

Limenitis reducta.jpg (122.61 KiB) Viewed 378 times

[livingplanet3]

Some other nymphalid genera also have it:

Athyma selenophora -


Adelpha eulalia -

[lamprima2]

Thanks, livingplanet3

[wollastoni]

Athyma and Adelpha are Limenitidinae too.