Fresh Sheet – October 29, 2011

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.



El Salvador

10 - Battus belus (Belus Swallowtail)
15 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
15 - Consul fabius (Tiger Leafwing)
20 - Doxocopa laure (Silver Emperor)
13 - Heliconius hecale (Tiger Longwing)
25 - Lycorea cleobaea (Large Tiger)
30 - Morpho peleides (Blue Morpho)
20 - Morpho polyphemus (White Morpho)
16 - Myselia cyaniris (Blue Wave Butterfly)
24 - Myscelia ethusa (Royal Blue Butterfly)
30 - Papilio erostratus (Dusky Swallowtail)
20 - Papilio torquatus (Band-gapped Swallowtail)
30 - Parides arcas (Arcas Cattleheart)
30 - Parides photinus (Queen of Hearts)
13 - Prepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
30 - Prepona omphale (Blue Belly-Button)
07 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)

Total = 348

Suriname

20 - Battus polydamas (Polydamus Swallowtail)
15 - Heraclides thoas (Thoas Swallowtail)
10 - Heraclides anchisiades (Ruby-spotted Swallowtail)
15 - Heliconius melpomene (Postman)
05 - Heliconius hecale (Tiger Longwing)
15 - Dryas iulia (Julia Longwing)
40 - Catonephele numilia (Numilia)
15 - Anartia amathea (Scarlet Peacock)
10 - Archeoprepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
20 - Biblis hyperia (Red Rim)
40 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
30 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)
35 - Phoebis sennae (Cloudless Sulphur)

Total = 270

Grand Total = 618

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Tide Pool Bully

What has five arms, wears leather, and is deadly (to sea anemones)?



When we first got our leather star (Dermasterias imbricate) we were impressed by its textured good looks and willingness to slide up into the handling area for inquiring hands to touch it. Although these echinoderms are known to eat sea anemones, we hoped that with ample food, it might suppress its predatory urges. But over time, a series of mysterious casualties were taking place in the tide pool. Sea anemones were disappearing or becoming damaged, with no evidence of human mishandling. Whatever other circumstances, the leather star was always lurking near the scene of the devastation. Animal Caretaker Cari Garand was able to put together the clues, and recommended we deal swiftly with the rogue sea star.


But now we ran into a problem. Pacific Science Center’s tide pool touch tank is considered a terminal facility. This means the department of Fish and Wildlife had determined that our animals couldn’t be returned to the sea. Because we feed our tide pool seafood from other regions, our animals could harbor shellfish virus or other pathogens, harmless to humans but that would make them more of a menace to beach wildlife than our leather star already was to our anemones.


Without the option of release in the wild, a tough decision lay before us. We could let the leather star go on destroying our anemone population, or we could destroy the leather star. Or was there a third way? While we worked out a plan, we removed the star from the exhibit area and isolated it in our filtration vat. Here, it could be fed and looked after without having access to our exhibit animals. Cari contacted Tim Carpenter, at Seattle Aquarium. He graciously agreed to accept the star, and provide a habitat where it would fit in better. All the paperwork was arranged, and on Oct. 25, Tim's assistant, Katie, completed the transfer.


The star had outgrown our little tide pool. We hope he finds it is better to be a small “fish” in a bigger pond.

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Fresh Sheet – October 22, 2011

Fans of the Atlas moth, Attacus atlas, will note that we have 15 cocoons in the emerging window this week.



Philippines

57 - Papilio palinurus (Banded Peacock)
15 - Attacus atlas (Atlas Moth)
49 - Papilio rumanzovia (Crimson Swallowtail)
100 - Papilio lowii (Sunset Swallowtail)
80 - Idea leuconoe (Paper Kite)
20 - Graphium agamemnon (Tailed Jay)
13 - Pachliopta kotzeboea (Pink Rose)
27 - Doleschalia bisaltide (Autumn Leaf)
77 - Parthenos sylvia philippensis (The Clipper)
20 - Graphium agamemnon (Tailed Jay)
30 - Papilio polytes (Polite Swallowtail)
50 - Hypolimnas bolina (Blue moon)

Total = 538

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.


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Name the Axolotls

Pacific Science Center's Life Sciences team is happy to introduce you to our two newest axolotls.



These young animals were donated to us by a very dedicated young man who had raised them from hatchlings, and wanted to share his interest with others. * The taupe colored one is a natural pigmented axolotl. The other one is an albino. The skin color is pale because it lacks pigment. The pink color often visible in the eyes and extremities of albino animals comes from the blood, which can be seen through their skin. You may see some of this axolotl’s internal organs, too!


The new axolotls are much smaller than our three resident animals, so for now we are keeping them separated by a Plexiglas cage divider. They see and smell each other, but the young ones are safe from bullying or fights over food. We will gradually introduce them; most axolotls are able to get along well if they are otherwise well cared for.


Our new axolotls need names. The grownups are called Flopsy, Mopsy and Peter Cotton Gills. We do not need to stick with the Beatrix Potter theme, but would be open to the possibility. We also have not yet sexed these axolotls. Therefore, we need names that are good for male or female animals. What do you think are good names for them? We don't have a prize, but the best names will be used, which is prize enough!

*Pacific Science Center rarely accepts donations of animals. There are a few exceptions. We will always take in stick insects, and when an animal is a good fit for our existing needs, we will occasionally take other animals from carefully selected sources.


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