Broad Bordered Acraea

Magnificent Magnificent Magnificent

Tnx bayucca, let say strictly from a zoological point, bontany is too complicated for this discussion: "A variation is an phenotype which differ in some characters from the taxonomic accepted typus, but not a single individual but a population." what kind of characteristics? hypothetically: the race=subsp lets say German shepherd, var. the black one and the bright one? what kind of characters are those to be accepted as subsp.? So if I decide to grow my population of black German shepherds and I isolate them, would they be after some period called as subsp of itself of a variation? And I mean what package of gens are variable and undergo the variation changes (NOT talking about genotype, rather about fenotype) I mean as I can see it from my laid point of view it seems that var. are always about something evident- coloration/ markings/size....bla bla, rather than for example blood type- or I am wrong? Sorry that i'm bothering is just that i wanna have some things clear in my mind. well you dont have to answer if that is too complicated, is just that at the moment i have no molecular biologists around me who I can bother with no regrets :D

Strange name for a butterfly so beautiful. If it was a parakeet.

Puhh... I already needed to read your comment twice and need even moe time to get the answers, which would not be easy... Just to start... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies Variation has nothing to do with the genetic entity. And there are differences between zoology and botany on one side and bacteriology on the other side. Accepted names are usually surveyed by international organisations/codes. Simply told: A variation is an phenotype which differ in some characters from the taxonomic accepted typus, but not a single individual but a population. The genotype of a variation is the same as the genotype of the corresponding species/subspecies. I am not sure if hybrids are taken into considerations by taxonomists. There are both, fertiles and infertiles hybrids, and it is not known to me how these hybrids are handled, the only thing I know is that these hybrids are a nightmare to ID, since there is usually not much infos about the parents... To make it short and simple: It is a very complicated issue, sometimes not even understood by scientists or challenged by other authors. All these names are for our daily life not as important as it might seem, but it helps to distinguish between different types. And we should not forget the terms: form and race (all domestic dogs are genetically the same Canis lupus familiaris, but if you look at a Bernhardiner or a Chihuahua you notice that one of the two might be out of the row ;-)...)...

btw seems that you knows a lot about this fine genetic differences, can you explan to me what is the difference on the genetic base between the variation and the subsp. ...or can a variation lead to a subsp. by its persistence and a domination over some other variations. I mean where is a definite line between a variation and subsp., does this two have some differences when genetically inherited? and if you have a hybrid between 2 subsp. and the new populations is created (cause they are fertile-aren't they) how do you define that population? as a var or as subsp

the 3rd is only important when is a different one

Hmm, I would not say that the third name means "nothing" ;-) Best example would be Heliconius hecale xy. If you look at the link you will notice a tremendous amount of completely (!) different subspecies, some are so different to each other that you never will think of being the same species. http://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/L/t/Heliconius_hecale_a.htm So sometimes the 3rd name is very important for an ID. The 3rd and 2nd name might never change during the years and centuries, but the genus name might undergoing a renaming.

oh there as so many others Bubo bubo, Mola mola, Anguila anguila, Zebrus zebrus, Anthias anthias et cestera et cetera ;) the 3rd anyways means nothing

@Injica: What about Bufo bufo bufo ... ;-) http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominikhofer/4508991510/in/set-72157623829904303

it is very beautiful

I think you should get a special reward for finding a species that in its name is repeating so many times the same world :D

Beautiful!

Thanks again!

The Southern Africa version of this butterfly used to be called Acraea zetes but the name was changed in the 1990's after a study revealed that it does not have the black suffusion of scales on the upperside of the forewings and with the red area more extensive compared to Acraea zetes.

Thanks a lot for clarifying this! I had Zetes and Acara in my mind, but did not have the info about the different ranges. Do you have any idea why they are not included in te same species when they are looking identical?

Acraea zetes and Acraea acara look the same but the former is only found in Central and Eastern Africa and the latter in Southern Africa.

Effect of sun rays enhancing the beauty! Fantastic series :)

Really lovely with the sunlight.

Nice series...I know the feeling, sometimes you never get a second chance. I have missed countless bird photos by the slightest hesitation...Glad you stuck with it and were able to share the capture.

Very beautiful.

Wow Tina, you have found another beauty :))) That's my favorite from all yours butterflies!

Neither me! But I told you before, tricky one, but I did not know that there are 220 different species around, uups...

I did not see it flying, so I believe you! ;-))...

Beautiful!!!

Might be Acraea zetes, but I am not sure. Tricky genus! http://www.flickr.com/photos/globalvoyager/6595523607/in/set-72157628623329555 http://www.flickr.com/photos/globalvoyager/sets/72157628623329555/detail/ http://www.fleetingwonders.com/butterflies-cameroon-gabon-page8.php Acraea acara?? http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/butterflies/nymphalidae/acraea_acara.htm