Scientists find Australasia butterfly species has 15 classes of light detecting cells/photoreceptors
Q. Scientists have found a butterfly species from Australasia which has which has 15 classes of light detecting cells or photoreceptors. What species is this?- Published on 10 Mar 16a. Common bluebottles
b. Graphium sarpedon
c. Both are the same
d. Neither of the above
ANSWER: Both are the same
This enables the species (Common bluebottles or Graphium sarpedon) to observe fast moving objects better than even humans and differentiate between UV and polarised light. Earlier, no known insect had more than 9 classes of photoreceptors according to researchers. Such photoreceptors are like the rods and cons in the human eye. Having multiple photoreceptors is indispensable for observing colour. A similar system was found in another butterfly studied by this research group, the Asian swallowtail or Papilio xuthus. This has around 6 photoreceptors.
