Most of these are forms, rather than species. By the way, G. albosignatus albosignatus and G. orientalis undulatus have been left out. As for G. goliatus - in the words of entomologist Gilbert Lachaume (1983), some coleopterists have "amused themselves by naming a large number of varieties". I can't even recall all of the G. goliatus forms that I've seen listed on sites such as eBay over the years, many of which are not actually "officially recognized", and seem to have been coined by sellers. I believe that one such example, is hieroglyphicus -Very helpful. I want em all lol.
In isopods and reptiles they are called morphs. so forms are just variations? Also the Regius goliathus hybrid Bred by insect brothers would in theory create a new species?Exactly, Goliathus, I've seen plenty of "forms" listed on eBay as well, that's not even a subspecies, just a variation, like the spring and summer
"forms" of Actias luna . Clearly a lot of individual variation within the genus.
It'd be cheaper and easier just to make a poster out of that picture.. a 2D collection.
In isopods and reptiles they are called morphs. so forms are just variations?In isopods and reptiles they are called morphs. so forms are just variations? Also the Regius goliathus hybrid Bred by insect brothers would in theory create a new species?
Oh ok, got that!In isopods and reptiles they are called morphs. so forms are just variations?
Morph, form, and variation are all essentially interchangeable terms.
Also the Regius goliathus hybrid Bred by insect brothers would in theory create a new species?
No - it's a hybrid, in the same way that a cross between a lion and tiger, or a horse and donkey, are also hybrids. Hybrids can be fertile or infertile, depending on genetics. Incidentally, it's still not yet been truly established whether Goliathus "atlas" is indeed a hybrid between regius and cacicus, or simply a rare form that occasionally turns up within the regius gene pool. There are at least two (or more) rare forms of regius that look quite similar to atlas, but are not the true atlas, which is distinguishable from the others by a particular detail of the dark band that runs along the inner elytral margins (elytral suture).