The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies, because they are known to stand on only four legs while the other two are curled up; in some species, these forelegs have a brush-like set of hairs, which gives this family its other common name. Many species are brightly coloured and include popular species such as the emperors, monarch butterfly, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. However, the under wings are, in contrast, often dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a cryptic effect that helps the butterflies blend into their surroundings.
The small heath is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, classified within the subfamily Satyrinae. It is the smallest butterfly in this subfamily. The small heath is diurnal and flies with a noticeable fluttering flight pattern near the ground. It rests with closed wings when not in flight. It is widespread in colonies throughout the grasslands of Eurasia and north-western Africa, preferring drier habitats than other Coenonympha, such as salt marshes, alpine meadows, wetlands, and grasslands near water. However, habitat loss caused by human activities has led to a decline in populations in some locations.
Coenonympha is a butterfly genus belonging to the Coenonymphina, a subtribe of the browns (Satyrinae). The latter are a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae). As a rule, Palearctic species are colloquially called heaths, while Nearctic ones are called ringlets. Neither term is limited to members of this genus, however.
Coenonympha tullia, the large heath or common ringlet, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It flies in a variety of grassy habitats, including roadsides, woodland edges and clearings, prairies, bogs, and arctic and alpine taiga and tundra. It is a poor flyer, but can sometimes be found along ditches seeking new grounds. It is a holarctic species found in northern Europe, east across the Palearctic and across North America. The species was first described by Otto Friedrich Müller in 1764.
Ypthima asterope, the African ringlet or common three-ring, is a species of Satyrinae butterfly found in most dry areas of Africa and Asia.
Erebia is a Holarctic genus of brush-footed butterflies, family Nymphalidae. Most of the about 90–100 species are dark brown or black in color, with reddish-brown to orange or more rarely yellowish wing blotches or bands. These usually bear black spots within, which sometimes have white center spots.
Coenonympha oedippus, the false ringlet, is a species of butterfly in the subfamily Satyrinae. It is found in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine. It is extirpated from Bulgaria, Germany, and Slovakia.
Gomalia is a genus of marbled skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. There are three described species in Gomalia.
Coenonympha nipisiquit, the maritime ringlet, is a rare butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is a "species at risk" in Canada due to water pollution and its limited range. Its range is restricted in Canada to the Chaleur Bay region, between New Brunswick and the Gaspé Peninsula.
Erebia cassioides, the common brassy ringlet, is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae of family Nymphalidae.
Erebia hispania, the Spanish brassy ringlet, is a species of butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, endemic to the Sierra Nevada of southern Spain. The taxon rondoui, previously considered as a subspecies of Erebia hispania, is considered now as a different species according to the results obtained in molecular studies.
Coenonympha leander, the Russian heath, is a butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It is found in northern Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, southern Russia, Asia Minor, Armenia and Iran. The habitat consists of warm grassy areas.
Coenonympha orientalis is a small butterfly found in the Palearctic that belongs to the browns family. It is found in the Balkans.
Coenonympha haydenii, or Hayden's ringlet, is a species of brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
