Charaxes kahruba

Variegated rajah
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Charaxes
Species: C. kahruba
Binomial name
Charaxes kahruba
(Moore, 1895)

Charaxes kahruba, the variegated rajah, is a butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the rajahs and nawabs group, that is, the Charaxinae group of the brush-footed butterflies family.

Description

This is very similar in appearance to Charaxes marmax. On the upperside in the male two points of difference are—the short oblique portion of the postdiscal band on the fore wing near the costal margin is narrower than in C. marmax, and the broad black terminal band on fore wing which in C. marmax terminates at vein 1, in kahruba extends to the dorsal margin.

Variegated rajah basking in sun

On the underside the ground-colour is paler yellow than in marmax, the transverse black lines crossing both wings more sinuous and more heavily marked, the space between the sinuous transverse lines immediately below apex of cell of fore wing, and the space between the continuations of the same lines on the hind wing, rich dark ochraceous chestnut. On both fore and hind wing the space beyond the lunular, postdiscal, transverse line heavily marked with ochraceous chestnut, especially on the hind wing; the subterminal line of silvery spots on the fore wing forms a continuous band; the terminal narrow reddish-brown band on the hind wing very strongly marked. In the female the differences on the underside from marmax are similar in character and as conspicuous and marked as in the male.[1]

The wing expanse is 90-115 mm.

Found in the Himalayas from Kumaon to Sikkim; Assam hill-ranges ; Arrakan and Tenasserim.

References

  1. Bingham, C. T. 1905. Fauna of British India. Butterflies. Vol 1

Other sources

See also