Sloane's urania (SciiFii)

The Sloane's urania (Urania sloanus) is a species of moth of the family Uraniidae endemic to Jamaica and was once extinct since between 1894 to 1908, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to Jamaica to help boost biodiversity. The Sloane's urania is black with iridescent red, blue and green markings. The iridescent parts of the wings do not have pigment, like other moths of the same genus. The color originates from refraction of light by the ribbon-like scales covering the moth's wings. The Sloane's urania is considered "the most spectacular Urania species". As most species of the subfamily Uraniinae, it is a day-flying moth while most moths are active at night; its bright colors advertises, as a warning, the fact that it is also toxic. The larvae of Sloane's urania primarily feeds on "foodplants" such as the toxic Omphalea triandra and Omphalea diandra. The conservation status of the Sloane's urania species is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to conservationists, the Sloane's urania is a protected species.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii