Creature Awaits #222
Each week I plan to feature an amazing creature, admiring God's fantastic artistry. Hopefully it’ll brighten someone’s day to see something new and interesting if they haven’t seen it before. : )
(Gorgeous photography taken by the highly-skilled Andrew McKinlay (CC BY-NC 2.0))
The Mourning Cloak Butterfly
A.K.A: The Camberwell Beauty (United Kingdom), Rouwmantel (The Netherlands), Sorgmantel (Sweden), Trauermantel (Germany), Suruvaippa (Finland), Sørgekåpe (Norway)
Scientific Name: Nymphalis antiopa
Region: Throughout the Northern Hemisphere
Size: About a 4" (~10.2cm) wingspan in the Adult phase
Interesting Notes: Despite the bright patterning along its dorsal side, these beautiful butterflies camouflage well when threatened by tightly closing their wings to reveal a tree bark-like patterning and "playing dead" - tucking in their legs and holding completely still until certain the danger has passed.