Lynda Mariposas! (Pretty Butterflies!)

This gallery contains 2 photos. Two different species of tropical (Costa Rican) free-flying butterflies in the Amazon exhibit. Photographed at the Vancouver Aquarium on July 6. First up: heliconius cydno galanthus, aka, the Cydno Longwing. That curly protrusion is its tongue!

Next up: Heliconius erato, aka the Red Passionflower Butterfly or the Red Postman, looking almost like it’s levitating above the leaf. Butterflies are quite used to humans at Vanaqua, and can be found through the Amazonian exhibit (and outside of it, too).