Gold Molokai (IMAGE)

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Gold Molokai

Caption

This picture shows an undescribed species of Ariamnes from Molokai, Hawaiian Archipelago. Gillespie et al. describe an adaptive radiation of stick spiders that demonstrate repeated evolution of a discrete set of ecomorphs -- gold (shown here), dark, and matte white. The deterministic evolution of forms is associated with camouflage against a limited set of island predators, reduced dispersal and cursoriality, coupled with conserved pathways of color formation.

Credit

George Roderick

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