EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

The Common Crow That Isn't

Common Crow (Euploea core), Family Nymphalidae
Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Explanation:  Aha, while exploring nature parks of the "Top End" (Northern Territory) of Australia, I happened upon this ... common crow.  Except, it's not a crow.  Not really.  Also called the oleander butterfly, this is, well, a butterfly.  

Found throughout southeast Asia and northern Australia, common crows are largely toxic and mostly slow fliers except when evading a predator.  It exudes a strong scent as a marker of its toxicity to dissuade bird attacks, although a number of other invertebrates such as wasps and dragonflies can serve as effective predators that are largely immune to the toxins.  Common crows are mimicked by several other butterfly species that are edible, but that "borrow" some protection from their look-alikes.