Bhutanitis

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Bhutanitis
BhutliddCRW 4351.jpg
Bhutan glory, Bhutanitis lidderdalii
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Tribe: Zerynthiini
Genus: Bhutanitis
Atkinson, 1873
Species

See text

Bhutanitis is a genus of swallowtail butterflies that contains four species.

Contents

Distribution

The genus reaches its peak diversity in south-western China, particularly Yunnan and Sichuan (Chou, 2000), and adjacent Bhutan. Bhutanitis lidderdali is the most widespread species, occurring in China, Bhutan, India and Myanmmar (Chou, 2000); it is however locally extinct in Thailand due to habitat destruction. Larval host plants known to date are all Aristolochiaceae.

All Bhutanitis species are listed on CITES Appendix II, which restricts their international trade. Historically, they have been highly desired by butterfly collectors; three species in particular (B. mansfieldi, B. ludlowi and B. thaidina) were known from very few specimens until comparatively recently. However, large numbers of specimens of B. thaidina and B. mansfieldi pulchristriata have recently been available at very low prices, mainly from China, which indicates collector demand may be becoming satisfied.

Taxonomy

Two other taxa named as species of Bhutanitis (B. nigrilima Chou, 1992, B. yulongensis Chou, 1992) have since been synonymised with B. thaidina (Hauser et al. 2005). Another taxon, originally named as B. mansfieldi pulchristriata Saigusa and Lee, 1982, was also regarded as a separate species by Chou (1994) and Chou (2000), but has otherwise been regarded as a subspecies (Hauser et al., 2005).

Species

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Open wing mud-puddling position of Bhutanitis lidderdalii Atkinson, 1873 - Bhutan Glory DSC 2018Talley.jpg Bhutanitis lidderdalii Bhutan gloryBhutan, parts of northeastern India and of Southeast Asia.
Bhutanitis thaidina.jpg Bhutanitis thaidina Chinese three tailed swallowtailChina.
Bhutanitis mansfieldi Mansfield's three-tailed swallowtailChina.
Bhutanitis ludlowi Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtailBhutan and India

References