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Plain Tiger (new season)


Plain Tiger (new season)
Photo Information
Copyright: Pankaj Bajpai (pankajbajpai) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1558 W: 105 N: 4679] (16507)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-15
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D80, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6GED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Ni
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Butterflies on Lantana Flowers, Beautiful Butterflies Part Two, Butterflies with minimum 50 points & above, Butterflies By pankaj Bajpai [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-16 8:13
Viewed: 1047
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) or - outside Asia - African Monarch is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the danaine ("Crows and Tigers") subfamily of the brushfooted butterfly family Nymphalidae.

It is believed to be one of the first butterflies to be used in art. A 3500 year old Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest illustration of this species (Larsen 1994).

The Plain Tiger can be considered the archetypical danaine of India. Accordingly, this species has been studied with in greater detail than other members of its subfamily occurring in India.

The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) or - outside Asia - African Monarch is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the danaine ("Crows and Tigers") subfamily of the brushfooted butterfly family Nymphalidae.

It is believed to be one of the first butterflies to be used in art. A 3500 year old Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest illustration of this species (Larsen 1994).

The Plain Tiger can be considered the archetypical danaine of India. Accordingly, this species has been studied with in greater detail than other members of its subfamily occurring in India

Ecology

It is found in every kind of country including the desert (pending availability of food) and right up into the mountains till 9000 feet. Primarily a butterfly of open country and gardens. Unlike the Common Tiger, a related species, is least common in damp, forested, hilly regions. It is a somewhat migratory species.

This butterfly is perhaps the commonest of Indian butterflies and is a familiar sight to practically everyone on the subcontinent. It flies from dawn to dusk, frequenting gardens, sipping from flowers and, late in the day, fluttering low over bushes to find a resting place for the night.

As usual for diurnal butterflies, this species rests with its wings closed. When basking it sits close to the ground and spreads its wings with its back to the sun so that the wings are fully exposed to the sun's rays.

Defense against predators, mimicry

Indian Fritillary (Argyreus hyperbius) female in a butterfly garden in Tokyo, Japan
Leopard Lacewing (Cethosia cyane) in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, IndiaThe Plain Tiger is protected from attacks due to the unpalatable alkaloids ingested during the larval stages. The butterfly therefore flies slowly and leisurely, generally close to the ground and in a straight line. This gives a would-be predator ample time to recognise and avoid attacking it. Inexperienced predators will try attacking it, but will learn soon enough to avoid this butterfly as the alkoloids in its body cause vomiting.

The butterfly also has a tough, leathery skin to survive such occasional attacks. When attacked it fakes death and oozes nauseating liquid which makes it smell and taste terrible. This encourages the predator to release the butterfly quickly. The Plain Tiger thus has the ability to recover "miraculously" from predator attacks that would kill most other butterflies.

The protection mechanisms of the Plain Tiger, as of the other danaines, and indeed of all colorful unpalatable butterflies, result in predators learning this memorable aspect at first hand. Predators soon associate the patterns and habits of such butterfly species with unpalatability to avoid hunting them in future.

This advantage of protection has led to a number of edible butterfly species, referred to as "mimics", evolving to resemble inedible butterflies, which are referred to as the "model". The resemblance is not only in color, shapes, and markings, but also in behavioural and flight patterns. This form of mimicry - where an edible species mimics an inedible species - is known as Batesian mimicry.
jaycee, uleko, gracious, ellis49, Juyona, Photoslave, Luis52, haraprasan, pablominto, gannu, Maite, Argus, JORAPAVI, mikou, eqshannon, valy67, SelenE, Christopher_PL has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-07-16 8:17]

Hi Pankaj,

An absolutely beautiful image of this butterfly and the lovely flower. I love the rich colors. Razor sharp details showing off the wonderful patterns. A beautiful composition.

Jane

Hello Pankaj the butterflies specialist :) Your notes are much interesting as I have learned many new things, thanks! This is another superb capture of a great specie with excellent details, beautiful colors, POV and composition. I also like this DOF. Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2989 W: 162 N: 941] (2769)
  • [2007-07-16 8:26]

Hello Pankaj,
So you're my neighbour today, and one to be proud of!! Lovely capture of the Plain Tiger on a beautiful Lantana. I like the sharp details and the colours and the composition is very fine too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hello Panjaj,
I loved your photos with neat, sharp and strong colour!
This one is no exception too!
very well composed and well seen always
thanks for sharing
greeting from NZ
Tony

Hallo Pankaj,
a well composed and nice picture wiht lovely colours and good sharpness, pity the DOF is a shallow so the wingtips is a bit soft.
Well done.

Namaste Pankaj,
very pretty, I love this noble butterfly very much, a very good shot, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Pankaj,

perfect portrait of this interesting butterfly, nice colors and composition.

TFS!

Giorgio

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 640 W: 98 N: 1241] (4189)
  • [2007-07-16 17:57]

Focus is excellent on most of butterfly and the Lantana flowers. This is a beautiful butterfly. The colors are rich and well saturated. The composition is outstanding. Great texture in flower, leaf, and hindwing of butterfly.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2007-07-16 18:30]

Hola Pankaj. Me agrada este bello macro de la Mariposa. Los colores y el fondo son muy naturales sin sobre exposicion. Luis52.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-07-16 19:24]

Hello Pankaj

Another beautiful Tiger butterfly.The lighting is very good producing rich colours.Very good focus and tack sharp details.TFS

Rob

Hi Pankaj,
Very fine details with excellent BG. I think the top of the wing is a bit soft. But I know how difficult it is to take a super fine capture of this species. Very well done. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Pankaj,
A very attractive composition!
Good point of view and wonderful details in the butterfly, attractive colour palette...
Close-up work is well done and the background is enhancing the subject!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2007-07-17 2:20]

Pankaj, Marvellous shot and what a pose it is giving you. Sharp focus and clear. TFS Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2007-07-17 3:13]

Hello Pankaj!
What a perfect and beautiful shot!!
I love the perfection on details of the beautiful pattern and colors of this marvellous butterfly and flowers!
Magnificent POV, DOF, colors and composition.
Congratulations and thank you very much for sharing, dear friend.
Greetings
Maite

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2261 W: 10 N: 2629] (15559)
  • [2007-07-17 3:34]

Hola amigo,
bello trabajo,
original color,
excelente pov,
saludos
PT

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2007-07-17 5:25]

Hi Pankaj

You photos make me very envious - they make our poor butterflies look so drab!

Lovely POV and colour plus good detail.

James

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5578] (18516)
  • [2007-07-17 6:20]

Hi Pankaj,
Wonderful shot of the Plain Tiger in all its glory. Superb colours with sharp details and focus. Majestic colours here and the bright lantana flowers add brilliant tone. Excellent POV to capture this classical pose and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2007-07-17 7:37]

Hello Pankaj,
Another nice capture of the Plain Tiger in a nice composition with the lantana flower. Most of the butterfly is sharp but as you used flash you might have been able to reduce the aperture and increase DOF, but thats a small point. Overall this is a fine shot.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

Hola Pankaj,
Hermosa composición de esta bella mariposa, buena nitidez y detalle con preciosos colores, Saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 67 N: 1311] (5269)
  • [2007-07-17 11:34]

Hi Pankaj.
Great macro.I like this composition and your used point of view.Except ends wings are all the parts butterfly pretty sharp,also his amazing body.Vivid colors are wonderful-on butterfly as well as on very attractive flower.Very well done.
TFS,with greeting Milos.

Hi Pankaj, splendid macro full of great colors, lovely butterfly with great details, very well done, ciao Silvio

Very well done sir. Notes are most complete and picture meets all criteria for publishing...wonderful!

Bob

Hello Pankaj !
What awonderful picture ! Both the butterfly and the flower are beautiful. Details, colors, composition, POV and blurred BG are excellent. The butterfly stands out very nicely. Well done !
Valerie.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2007-07-19 7:20]

Hi Pankaj,
Colors, POV, composition and the details are very nice. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

Hello Pankaj,
Beautiful Tiger butterfly with very nice colours
well done

Hello Pankaj,
This is one more your great shot ;-)
Perfect in every detail: colours, sharpness and coposition. Nothing more to add ;-)

Chris

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