Defensive-morphology
Guides
Allenius
Allenius is a genus of lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) containing a single described species, Allenius iviei. The genus was established in 2012 and is notable for its extreme rarity and distinctive morphology. The sole species is known from only a few specimens collected in the northwestern United States.
Arawacus
stripe-streaks, stripestreaks
Arawacus is a genus of gossamer-wing butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, commonly known as stripe-streaks. The genus contains approximately 17 described species distributed throughout the Neotropical realm, from Mexico south through Central America to Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. Members of this genus are notable for their distinctive false-head defensive morphology on the hindwings, which helps misdirect predator attacks away from vital body parts.
Gasteracantha cancriformis
Spinybacked Orbweaver, Crab-like Orbweaver, Crab-like Spiny Orbweaver, Smiley Face Spider
Gasteracantha cancriformis is a distinctive orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae) known for its crab-shaped abdomen armed with prominent spines. The species exhibits striking color polymorphism, with females displaying white, yellow, orange, or red coloration combined with black markings. Native to the New World tropics and subtropics, it has been introduced to Hawaii. The species has been extensively studied for its genetic basis of color variation and phylogeographic patterns shaped by Andean uplift and gene flow.