How do caterpillars acquire chubby legs (IMAGE)

National University of Singapore

How do caterpillars acquire chubby legs

Caption

Prolegs in the body of the world’s largest moth (dark colour), the Atlas moth (Atticus atlas), support the caterpillar in hanging upside down on a twig. Meanwhile, the smaller thoracic legs can be used to help in food processing. Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found that the prolegs are novel traits, linked to crustaceans, and are not modified forms of true legs.

Credit

A. Monteiro

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