|
|
|
Dragons mouth
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I folk's , today I have this tight in macro of a pale snaketail dragonfly , I thought it was kind of neat that it showed the mouth of this insect fairly well.
the mouth of a dragonfly is adapted to its predatory nature , being exo-skeletal in nature it is not flexible or stretchy like a mammals mouth , there are three parts to its mouth to make it work two are a series of plates called the labrum & labium , the labium are kind of like cheeks and the labrum like a chin , each are made of two plates that work kind of like a diaphragm , the plates overlap more when it is closed , and less when it is open. then there are a pair of mandibles , they pull food inwards , and munch it up, there is no chewing the way we may think of it , the mandibles simply pull inwards if the prey is to big to fit the mandibles cut in and break it down till it does fit. the function of the mandibles do not allow the insect to spit food out...
I will post a little workshop that points these parts out.
regards
Art |
marianas has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
Robert,
Wonderful macro, great light, colors, good job.
Mariana
- gostol (33)
- [2009-09-06 11:55]
-
Hi Robert.
Super you saw the dragonfly, nice colours and the sharpness. Agnes.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 169 W: 23 N: 459]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(2230)