Charaxes saturnus

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Charaxes saturnus
EV-0022 Charaxes jasius saturnus (3666463700).jpg
C. saturnus, Sokokoe Forest, Coastal Kenya
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Charaxes
Species:
C. saturnus
Binomial name
Charaxes saturnus
(Butler, 1865) [2]
Synonyms
  • Charaxes saturnus var. laticinctus Butler, 1895
  • Charaxes pelias saturnusButler, 1865
  • Charaxes pelias saturnus ab. brunnesceusRothschild & Jordan, 1900
  • Charaxes pelias brunnescens [3]
  • Charaxes pelias saturnus ab. laticinctusRothschild & Jordan, 1900
  • Charaxes jasius saturnusvan Someren, 1963
  • Charaxes jasius brunnescensvan Someren, 1963
  • Charaxes saturnus brunnescensTurlin 2005

Charaxes saturnus, the foxy charaxes or koppie charaxes, is a butterfly that flies through most of the Savannah of the Eastern and Southern Afrotropical realm, and also occurs in suitable forest habitat locations including the forest belt of west-central Africa.

Contents

Description

Charaxes saturnus[stat.rev.2005] [4] is a medium to large butterfly, with forewing length of 40–44 mm in the male, and 46–50 mm in the female. [5] The background colour of all four wings is a very dark blackish brown, with a broad orange postdiscal band traversing both pairs of wings from the leading edge of the forewings almost to the anal margin of the hindwings. The forewing outer margins are orange traversed by black-scaled veins. The hindwing has six orange marginal lunules, the lower three are white-edged to completely white. There are typically three or four blue submarginal spots towards the anal angle. The body and the basal area of all four wings is a tawny orange-brown. [5] [6] The underside exhibits a very characteristic mosaic appearance broadly similar to a number of closely related species, traversed by a jumble of bands, and of reddish, brown, and greyish patches, all edged with a filigree of white. Beyond the inner mosaic, a white complete postdiscal band bridges across fore- to hindwings. The outer orange marginal coloration is present on the underside as narrow white-edged lunules, bounded by a grey submarginal band. The female resembles the male but is larger. Both sexes of Charaxes saturnus are similar to females of Charaxes achaemenes . and Charaxes guderiana .

Hybridisation

Where C. saturnus is sympatric with Charaxes epijasius [stat.rev.2005], [4] over an extensive zone of overlap, the two species hybridize regularly, producing highly variable transitional specimens(C. saturnus x C. epijasius). The distribution range of hybrid forms extends from Ethiopia to Western Kenya & Northern Tanzania. [4] The variable hybrid forms have historically been named as harrisoni, [7] saturnalis, [8] and pagenstecheri [3] [4] Observation of hybrid forms in Tanzania, as an example, beyond the recognised range of C. epijasius, strongly indicates that the hybrid forms may exist as fertile hybrids, at a lower prevalence [9] than the relatively more stable phenotype of C. saturnus. More detailed phylogenetic research and breeding studies are required to elucidate further the relationships between the two species and their intermediate hybrid phenotypes, and the degree of fertility exhibited amongst their highly variable intermediate forms.

Subspecies

In the western areas of its range, it is more variable which has led to some earlier authors to suggest a western subspecies (e.g. Poulton, 1926, TL= N. Angola [3] ). Recent detailed re-evaluation found no western locality-depended areas with consistent population phenotypes which could merit infraspecific definition, including in Angola. [10]

The Charaxini taxa harrisoni, saturnalis, and pagenstecheri are now thought to be at least partially fertile hybrid variable phenotypes of (C. saturnus x C. epijasius ). This would suggest that evolutionary divergence to fully stable species separation between C. epijasius and C. saturnus is not complete. Further phylogenetic research is required to clarify the current position further.

Historical attempts to assemble a cluster of presumably related species into a "Charaxes jasius Group" have not been wholly convincing. More recent taxonomic revision, [4] corroborated by phylogenetic research, allow a more rational grouping congruent with cladistic relationships. Within a well-populated clade of 27 related species sharing a common ancestor approximately 16 mya during the Miocene, [11] 26 are now considered together as The jasius Group. [4] One of the two lineages forms a robust clade of seven species sharing a common ancestor approximately 2-3 mya, i.e. during the Pliocene, [11] and are considered as the jasius subgroup. [4]

The jasius Group (26 Species)

Clade 1: jasius subgroup (7 species): [4]

Clade 2: contains the well-populated three additional subgroups (19 species) of the jasius Group, called the brutus, pollux, and eudoxus subgroups. [4] Further exploration of the phylogenetic relationships amongst existing Charaxes taxa is required to improve clarity.

Distribution

Where appropriate habitat occurs, from Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, across to the west in Central African Republic, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and all of southern Africa down to East London (Eastern Cape Province), but not the Mediterranean climate of the Weastern Cape Province, where it is replaced by Charaxes pelias . It is not known to occur in Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda or Burundi. [12] [13]

Habitat

NW Angola scarp savanna and woodland Cacefo Bengo Angola.jpg
NW Angola scarp savanna and woodland
Riverside savanna and woodland habitat, Mpanda, Tanzania Katavi.jpg
Riverside savanna and woodland habitat, Mpanda, Tanzania

Savannah and open woodland, from sea level – 2200 m; lower slopes of Kilimanjaro; and similar habitats found across the South African Veldt including Koppie habitats. In Angola and the central African forest belt, it occurs in open and closed-canopy woodland and secondary forest areas also. [10]

Natural history

C. saturnus is continuously brooded and flies throughout the year. [14]

Life cycle

The early stages from egg to pupa are described in detail by Dr. V. G. L. van Someren & Rev. K. St. A. Rogers [15]

Larva

After hatching, the larva eats the remaining eggshell, rests for 12hrs, and commences nocturnal habit of devouring leaves on the host plant, non-selective as to age and size of leaf. The larva spins a silken refuge on a selected leaf to rest during the day. The larva is initially yellowish-olive with a blackish-brown head bearing short tubercles. The body is finely papillated, and two pale tails arise from the anal segment. After the first moult, the larva is green, with a green face.

Larval food plants

Larvae polyphagous on a wide range of hosts including Brachystegia , Hibiscus , Croton sp. , Afzelia quanzensis , Bauhinia galpinii , Burkea africana , Schotia brachypetala , the red spike-thorn shrub and tree Gymnosporia senegalensis , Colophospermum mopane , Xanthocerces zambesiaca , Julbernardia globiflora , Xeroderris stuhlmannii , Guibourtia conjugata , Catha edulis . [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Charaxes jasius</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes jasius, the two-tailed pasha, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is the only European species of the genus Charaxes. Divergence of the Mediterranean species C. jasius from the last common ancestor with its closest related species still flying in the Afrotropical realm most probably occurred around 2 mya, i.e. during the Pliocene.

<i>Charaxes</i> Genus of brush-footed butterflies

The rajah and pasha butterflies, also known as emperors in Africa and Australia, make up the huge type genus of the brush-footed butterfly subfamily Charaxinae, or leafwing butterflies. They belong to the tribe Charaxini, which also includes the nawab butterflies (Polyura). Charaxes are tropical Old World butterflies, with by far the highest diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, a smaller number from South Asia to Melanesia and Australia, and a single species in Europe. They are generally strong flyers and very popular among butterfly collectors.

<i>Charaxes brutus</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes brutus, the white-barred emperor or white-barred Charaxes, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Africa.

<i>Charaxes pelias</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes pelias, the protea emperor or protea charaxes, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, and is endemic to the Cape Provinces in South Africa.

<i>Charaxes castor</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes castor, the giant emperor or giant charaxes, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found throughout the Afrotropical realm below the Sahel.

<i>Charaxes druceanus</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes druceanus, the silver-barred emperor or silver-barred charaxes, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found throughout tropical Africa.

<i>Charaxes lactetinctus</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes lactetinctus, the blue patch charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and possibly Sudan.

<i>Charaxes legeri</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes legeri, the St. Leger's charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in southern Burkina Faso, northern Benin, northern Nigeria and southern Niger. The habitat consists of woodland savanna at altitudes between 600 and 1,700 meters.

<i>Charaxes hansali</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes hansali, the cream-banded charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman.

Charaxes junius is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Ethiopia and Sudan. The habitat consists of forests and woodland savanna.

<i>Charaxes andara</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes andara is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in eastern and southern Madagascar, where it is found in Afrotropical forests. It is very similar to Charaxes brutus, of which it has been considered a subspecies.

<i>Charaxes ansorgei</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes ansorgei is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. The habitat consists of montane forest on altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 meters. The larvae feed on Bersama abyssinica abyssinica, Bersama abyssinica englerana and Bersama paullinoides.It was once considered to be a very rare species but it is relatively common in dense and inaccessible montane forests

<i>Charaxes phoebus</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes phoebus is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Ethiopia. The habitat consists of montane forests and woodland.

<i>Charaxes pollux</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes pollux, the black-bordered charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

<i>Charaxes phraortes</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes phraortes is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in north-eastern Madagascar. The habitat consists of wet coastal forests.

<i>Charaxes andranodorus</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes andranodorus is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found on Madagascar.

<i>Charaxes eudoxus</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes eudoxus, the Eudoxus charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon and Zambia.

Charaxes lucyae is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Tanzania.

Charaxes richelmanni is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. The habitat consists of lowland evergreen forests.

<i>Charaxes epijasius</i> Species of butterfly

Charaxes epijasius, the cream-bordered charaxes or Sahel charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It flies through most of the Savannah of the Afrotropical realm except southern Africa.

References

  1. ↑ Coetzer, B.H.; Westrip, J.R.S. (2021). "Charaxes saturnus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T169301047A169301051. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T169301047A169301051.en . Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Butler, A.G., Monograph of the Species of Charaxes, a Genus of Diurnal Lepidoptera. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 1865 (3): 624, pl. 36, f. 1; TL: "Interior of Africa"
  3. 1 2 3 Poulton, E.B. (1926). Mimicry in African Butterflies of the genus Charaxes, with a classification of the species. III. Internationaler Entomologen-Kongreß, Zürich, Juli 1925, Band II. pp531-532,570 accessible here
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Turlin, B. (2005). Bauer & Frankenbach (ed.). Butterflies of the World (22): Charaxes 1. Vol. 22. Keltern: Goecke & Evers. p. 3. ISBN   3937783156.
  5. 1 2 van Someren (1963), Revisional Notes on African Charaxes (Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae) Part 1. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Ent.) 13,(7), 205
  6. ↑ Larsen, Torben (1991). The butterflies of Kenya and their natural history. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 286. ISBN   0-19-854011-6.
  7. ↑ Sharpe E. (1904), On new species of Butterflies from Equatorial Africa Entomologist.37:131-134
  8. ↑ van Someren, V.G.L. (1963). "Revisional notes on African Charaxes Part 1". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 13 (7): 203. pl. 4, f. 20-24, pl. 5, f. 25-28; TL= "Kenya, South Kavirondo, Suna"
  9. ↑ van Someren, V.G.L. (1963). "Revisional notes on African Charaxes Part 1". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 13 (7): 198–203.
  10. 1 2 L. F. Mendes, A. Bivar-de-Sousa, S. Vasconcelos & C. Van-Dúnem Santos (2017). Description of two new subspecies and notes on Charaxes Ochsenheimer, 1816 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) of Angola. SHILAP Revta. lepid., 45 (178) 2017: 299-315. See p.303-4 for discussion 312,313 Figs. 7-18 online hosted by Researchgate here
  11. 1 2 "Out of Africa again: A phylogenetic hypothesis of the genus Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) based on five gene regions" Archived 2019-07-25 at the Wayback Machine . Aduse-Poku, Vingerhoedt, Wahlberg. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (2009) 53;463–478
  12. ↑ African Butterfly Database, Charaxes saturnus
  13. ↑ Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Charaxes saturnus
  14. 1 2 Pringle, E.L.L.; Henning, G.A.; Ball, J.B., eds. (1994). Pennington's Butterflies of Southern Africa (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struike Winchester. pp. 87–88. ISBN   0-947430-46-6.
  15. ↑ van Someren, V.G.L.; Rogers, Rev. K. St. A. (1928). "The Butterflies of Uganda and Kenya (Part 7) Family Nymphalide - Charaxidi" (PDF). Journal of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society. 31–32: 111–113 & 136–138. hosted by Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)
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