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A TRICK OF THE TAIL--BLUE-CROWNED MOTMOT & LANGSDORFF'S CORALSNAKE
(2008)
Subject: Blue-crowned Motmot & Langsdorff's Coralsnake
Dimensions (inches): 15 x 20
Description: Cousins of kingfishers, the motmots comprise a family of inconspicuous tropical American forest birds. Except for one uncommon species, they are notable for their two elongated central tail feathers, with a section of loosely-anchored barbs that quickly fall away, leaving naked shafts and a characteristic racket-tail. The most widespread motmot, the Blue-crowned (Momotus momota), ranges from Mexico to Trinidad and northern Argentina. Like the rest of its family, it feeds on some fruits and a variety of arthropods and small vertebrates, including snakes. Research has shown that motmots shun the bold black, pale and red pattern typical of highly venomous coralsnakes (Micrurus spp.), but it has yet to be determined how they react to the unusual pattern of Langsdorff's Coralsnake (M. langsdorffii) of the northwest Amazonian Basin, which lacks black rings. This painting displays a hypothetical take on this situation while depicting a common defensive tactic of coralsnakes known as self-mimicry. Here the subject, half buried in leaf litter, raises and writhes its boldly barred tail, suggesting a second head and confusing its antagonist. Incidental species include an unidentified snail of the superfamily Helicoidea, ants of the genera Allomerus and Paraponera, a fulgorid planthopper (Pterodictya reticularis) and a Long-billed Starthroat (Heliomaster longirostris).
Original Available For Sale:
No
Limited Edition Available:
No
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