Ostentatious: deadly and/or attractive

Jewel Beetle
Buprestidae

Jewel beetles are a colourful group of insects that belong to the beetle family Buprestidae. The iridescent colours on the bodies of the beetles are a result of microstructures in their exoskeleton which reflect and refract light. Owing to their beautiful metallic colours, these animals are sometimes used in the making of jewellery! There is no doubt that they are ostentatious in our eyes.

The metallic wings of jewel beetles recently made an appearance in the movie ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ A turquoise gown worn by Queen Ravenna in the movie was made with thousands of jewel beetle wings. The conservation ethics of such a dress are debatable. This unidentified species of jewel beetles was found in Singapore.

Electric Flame Scallop
Ctenoides ales (Finlay, 1927)

The Electric Flame Scallop is not a scallop but rather, a type of file clam. This species was observed to give off flashing displays. Scientists have since determined that this flashing is not the result of bioluminescence but rather the reflection of light from external sources. The soft tissues of this species have microscopic silica spheres which reflect light.

The movement of the soft tissues gives the appearance of flashing. It was initially thought that this flashing was used by the Electric Flame Scallop to communicate with other members of the same species. Scientists have determined their visual capability (yes, they have eyes!) is not sufficient to detect the flashing. The latest research suggests that these flashes are used as a warning to predators. This species is very widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific in tropical waters. In the ASEAN region it is known from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Gunung Jerai Black Stream-frog
Abavorana nazgul Quah, Anuar, Grismer, Wood, Azizah & Muin, 2017

With its very distinctive black body with red stripes running down the side of its body, the Gunung Jerai Black Stream-frog is one ostentatious frog. As if this is not enough, its species name is derived from the “Ringwraiths” in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ who are cloaked in black. This species is not found outside of ASEAN and is only known from a small area in Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia.

Blue Spotted Crow
Euploea midamus singapura (Moore, 1883)

The caterpillar of the Blue Spotted Crow is beyond ostentatious. With its bright orange-yellow body and three pairs of black, fleshy protuberances, it is just screaming for attention. Among the animals, the more noticeable a species, the less good a meal it makes. But how does this species deter predators from turning into a meal?

A butterfly expert from Singapore inadvertently found out. While observing this species feeding on a leaf, a sudden jerk of the leaf caused it to evert its prosternal gland. This gland was not previously known in this group of butterflies. Scientists have determined that chemical compounds emitted from this gland serve a defensive function. Rather than attracting attention, the bright colouration likely serves as a warning. This species is only found in the ASEAN region, in Peninsular Malaysia (Pulau Aur and Pulau Tioman) and Singapore.

Opadometa sarawakensis Dzulhelmi & Suriyanti, 2015

In this species of spider, it is the female who looks stunning! It is the only species in this group with the spectacular colouration. The abdomen of the female is spectacularly coloured metallic blue and red. The female of this species was first photographed in Brunei in 2006.

In 2013, these pictures together with picture of a male spider thought to be of the same species were published in a book on Brunei spiders. Two years later, scientist formally named this species from specimens from Sarawak, Malaysia.

While the female is larger and spectacularly coloured, the male is much smaller and has grotesque spines on its jaws. The function of these spines remains unknown. This species is only known from ASEAN, from Brunei and Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak).

Munidopsis sp.

The SJADES 2018 Expedition collected 20 species of squat lobsters (as these animals are commonly known). Among them was a beautiful species with a distinctive zebra pattern (not black and white but red and white!). It is an undescribed species new to science—just one of the many that the expedition has discovered. This species is known only from ASEAN, from deep water off Java, Indonesia.

Shocking Pink Dragon Millipede
Desmoxytes purpurosea Enghoff, Sutcharit, & Panha, 2007

This species superficially resembles a centipede—and did we mention it is a shocking pink colour? This species is also the largest in the genus. The Thai scientists who described this species are also certain that the bright colouration serves as a warning to potential predators since these millipedes produce hydrogen cyanide in protective glands. This species is only from the ASEAN region from Thailand.

Reddish Crown Snail
Sarika asamurai (Panha, 1997)

This species is set apart from other related species by the posterior of its soft body being red or reddish in colour. Furthermore, this species has a shell with prominent radial ridges which make it look like a ‘crown’.

The Reddish Crown Snail has only been found in a very narrow distribution range in mountainous areas with humid limestone forests in Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand.

Laotian Warty Newt
Laotriton laoensis (Stuart & Papenfuss, 2002)

Attending a wedding in Laos, scientist Bryan Stuart was served alcohol with a newt immersed in it. It is a local tradition to toast the bride and groom with alcohol imbued with the essence of newt. Stuart immediately realised that this was a new newt and formally named it in a paper published in 2002.

This species is only found in a small area in Laos and unfortunately for the new newt, animal traders became aware of this species through the publication of the paper. The collection of this species for the pet trade means that the Laotian Warty Newt is now an endangered species. While publishing and sharing scientific information helps scientists further research and conservation efforts, this is a two-edged sword. This species is only found in ASEAN, from Laos.