Kallima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kallima |
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Nymphalinae
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Kallima
Doubleday, 1849
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The Kallima butterfly is also known as the Oakleaf or Dead Leaf butterfly. It is a type of butterfly found in Asia. These butterflies belong to a group called Nymphalidae, which includes many colorful butterflies.
Contents
Master of Disguise: The Dead Leaf Look
The Kallima butterfly gets its common name from the amazing way its wings look. When these butterflies close their wings, the underside is a mix of brown colors. This makes them look exactly like a dead leaf!
This clever trick helps them hide from animals that might want to eat them. Some parts of their wings even have dark spots or patches. These spots look like fungi or lichen that often grow on old leaves.
To make the disguise even better, their back wings have a small 'tail'. This tail looks just like the stalk of a leaf. When the butterfly rests with its wings closed, this 'tail' touches the branch. This completes the perfect camouflage and makes the butterfly almost impossible to spot!
Different Looks: Wet and Dry Season Morphs
Some Kallima butterflies, like the common Indian species Kallima inachus, can have different appearances. These different forms are called morphs.
There are two main morphs for this species. One morph appears during the wet season, and another appears during the dry season. The colors and patterns on the underside of their wings can change between these seasons. Scientists are still learning why these different forms exist.
Images for kids
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Kallima philarchus
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Kallima paralekta female
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Kallima horsfieldii
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Kallima limborgi
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See also
In Spanish: Kallima para niños
