Video Description: Time lapse of a monarch butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. | Smithsonian

A few real-time seconds of a postman butterfly stretching its newly emerged wings for the very first time. Once it acclimates to no longer being inside a cozy chrysalis, this butterfly — along with others in the emergence chamber — will be released into our rainforest dome. | California Academy of Sciences

The transformation of a butterfly, known as complete metamorphosis, is a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. During the pupal stage, the caterpillar’s body breaks down and is rebuilt into a new form, culminating in the emergence of the winged adult butterfly. A beautiful video by @ruiruito | Roar Wildlife News