Losaria rhodifer

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Andaman Clubtail

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Atrophaneura
Subgenus: Losaria
Species: L. rhodifer
Binomial name
Losaria rhodifer
Butler, 1876

The Andaman Clubtail Losaria rhodifer, a rare and beautiful member of the Swallowtail (Papilionidae) family, is native to India. The butterfly belongs to the Clubtail subgenus, Losaria, of the genus Atrophaneura or the Red Bodied Swallowtails.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

The butterfly is endemic and restricted to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

[edit] Description

Male differs from Losaria coon (earlier P. coon doubledayi) as follows:—Ground-colour a rich velvety-black, much darker than in doubledayi; on the fore wing the pale streaks extend only into the apex of the cell. On the hind wing the medial white markings are much shorter, the spots at base of interspaces 4 and 5 and generally the spot in interspace 7 absent; the subterminal and terminal vermilion spots are much larger, and the tail is vermilion on its apical spatulate portion. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in doubledayi, but the head entirely vermilion-red. Female closely resembles the male, fore wing broader, red markings on hind wing more crimson than vermilion-red, often dull and irrorated slightly with black scales; medial white markings more extensive, the white mark in interspace 1 extends well below vein 1.[1]

[edit] Status

It has been described as not rare but much work needs to be done to clarify its exact status and distribution. It is not listed as threatened.[2]

[edit] Taxonomy

No subspecies.

[edit] Cited references

  1. ^ Bingham, C. T. 1907. Fauna of British India. Butterflies. Volume 2
  2. ^ Collins, N.M. & Morris, M.G. (1985) Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. IUCN. ISBN 2-88032-603-6

[edit] References

  • Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
  • Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History.
  • Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.

[edit] See also


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