Metamorphosis in the Butterfly

Etymologically speaking, the word metamorphosis comes from the Greek  “meta-morphosis”, which referred to any change of form, or transformation.

This word applies   perfectly to the fascinating transformation undergone by certain animals in order to pass from their larval to their adult stage.

This animation illustrates the principal stages in the metamorphosis of a butterfly – the Machaon.

Click on the right hand arrow to go forward in time, and on the left hand arrow to go backward in time.

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