| Malabar Raven | |
|---|---|
| Malabar Raven at Shendurney WLS, Kerala, India | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Genus: | Papilio |
| Species: | P. dravidarum |
| Binomial name | |
| Papilio dravidarum Wood-Mason, 1880 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Princeps dravidarum |
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The Malabar Raven ( Papilio dravidarum) is a species of Swallowtail butterfly found in the Western Ghats of India.
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Endemic to the Western Ghats in South India. It occurs in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa.
Uncommon but not known to be threatened. Commonest in Wynaad and Coorg in the past. Rarer towards the extremities of its range.
The Malabar Raven is a blackish brown tailless swallowtail, about 80 to 100 mm in size. Both the sexes are similar and are mimics of the unpalatable Common Crow Euploea core. The upper forewing has a small white spot at the end of the cell, a complete series of equal sized marginal white spots in regular row and a terminal series of spots decreasing in size towards the apex. The upper hind wing has a discal series of arrowshaped white spots. It also has a submarginal series of elongated white crescent shaped markings. There is a white fringe between the veins. The outer halves of wings have a dusting of yellowish brown scales.
This butterfly frequents heavy jungles of the Western Ghats between 1000 to 3000 feet. It has been recorded in January and from March to October.
The Malabar Raven resembles the model Common Crow in habits and flight, but is faster than the other mimic, the Common Mime. It prefers shady patches. The males drink at wet patches especially in the hot dry pre-monsoon days. This butterfly does not visit flowers.
There are two to three broods a year. Recorded in Coorg as having broods from September to October, November to December, and, from April to May. Recorded in Karnataka in July and in September. Males appear to outnumber the females.