3-D-Reconstruction of a Head of a Death's Head Hawk Moth (IMAGE)

Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena

3-D-Reconstruction of a Head of a Death's Head Hawk Moth

Caption

This is the 3-D-reconstruction of a head of a Death's head hawk moth based on computer tomograph data. The white arrows mark the movements of the muscles when air is inhaled. In the process, the front gullet (green) is extended and air (blue arrow) is sucked in through the thereby created vacuum . The air passes a flap, the so-called epipharynx (red). The flap is pressed against the incoming air by muscle power. As a consequence the flap starts to vibrate in the air stream and a sound is produced.

Credit

Illustration: Phyletic Museum/FSU Jena

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