#rafflesaurs

[philippinewildlifeart]

Somewhere near the edge of a garden Rafflesaur philippensis are playing! They’re known to gather outside campsites and trails if these areas are left to minimal to no human presence. Allow them space to enjoy the forest margins by staying in your own space too!

Free printable: https://phwildlifeart.gumroad.com/l/rafflesaur-philippensis-printable

More Rafflesia bulbasaurs with saurses (sources): https://philippinewildlife.art/rafflesia-bulbasaurs/

[philippinewildlifeart]

Just some rafflesaurs playing among the tetrastigma vines. Can you name them all?

https://philippinewildlife.art/rafflesia-bulbasaurs/

[philippinewildlifeart]

Is this a new species… of Pokemon? There are 15 species of Rafflesia flowers in the Philippines. The Bulbasaur is a “species” of Pokemon, one of over 1,000 species in the popular Japanese media franchise. At Philippine Wildlife Art, there is a Bulbasaur for every Philippine Rafflesia species: Rafflesaurs!  Posting soon is our first Rafflesaur: 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘦.

[philippinewildlifeart]

What is a cross between a Pokemon Bulbasaur and a Rafflesia flower? A Rafflesaur! 

This species is 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘦, which is a result of a Bulbasaur born on Mt. Balukbok in Nueva Ecija: the only place in the world where 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘦 flowers have been found (Galindon et al., 2016).

Scientists have long known that tetrastigma vines in the forest are the only hosts of Rafflesia flowers. Rafflesia like 𝘙. 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘦 grow inside these vines and eventually reveal their blooming flowers. They are “parasitic” or dependent on tetrastigma vines for survival, but they also depend on pollinators like flies to reproduce.

It was recently discovered that Bulbasaurs are a “host Pokemon” for Rafflesia flowers (Philippine Wildlife Art 2023). Not much is known about their symbiotic relationship, because not many scientists are Pokemon experts yet.

Though the Pokemon Vileplume is known to be a rafflesia-inspired species, the Rafflesaur is the only species known to exist in the forests of the Philippines. We must protect our forests, so that we can gather more information about our elusive Philippine Rafflesaurs.

Reference:

Galindon et al., 2016. Rafflesia consueloae (Rafflesiaceae), the smallest among giants; a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines.