Neptis anjana

Neptis anjana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Neptis
Species:	N. anjana
Binomial name
Neptis anjana Moore, 1881
Synonyms
Neptis hyriaFruhstorfer, 1913 Neptis viduaStaudinger, 1889

Neptis anjana, the rich sailer, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in Asia.It is deep brown with dark steel-blue bands of a purplish lustre. ^[1]

Subspecies

• Neptis anjana anjana (central and southern Burma)
• Neptis anjana hyriaFruhstorfer, 1913 (Peninsular Malaya, Sumatra) The submarginal bands on the upper surface of the hindwing are less distinct than in anjana, the under surface more vivid red-brown, the steel-blue bands narrower and darker.
• Neptis anjana decernaFruhstorfer, 1908 (south-eastern Borneo) distinguished by very narrow grey-brown stripes on the upper surface
• Neptis anjana elegantiaFruhstorfer, 1908 (northern Borneo) has the bands broader, more yellowish, and on the under surface more intensely violet.
• Neptis anjana zenaFruhstorfer, 1905 (Java) a paler form having the discoidal streak as well as the subapical and subanal bands on forewing pale yellowish-brown instead of dark-brown, and the transverse bands rather lighter on hindwing. Still more striking is the pale colouring of the under surface, the ground-colour being light red instead of dark blue. All spots and other markings are broader and paler than they appear and of a more yellowish-white tone. Even the blue-violet bands on the hindwing are less dark and more brilliant.
• Neptis anjana saskiaFruhstorfer, 1900 (Nias) has on the forewing the subapical spots much larger than in zena, and clear white instead of yellowish; moreover,the upper one of the three spots composing the subanal transverse band assumes a whitish tinge.On the hindwing the subbasal band is somewhat narrower and paler than in zena, and the inner (postdiscal) submarginal band is made up of broader, rather helmet-shaped than oblong spots, between which we notice along the veins rays extending from the broad, jet-black discal spot. Beneath it even surpasses zena in the extent of the white patches and bands on the forewing. On the hindwing the under surface is characterized by the white subbasal band (which in zena and anjana remains of equal width) strongly tapering anally and being succeeded by a deeply dentate violet band; the inner, pale submarginal band is more conspicuous, broader and more strongly undulate than in zena, and is margined below by a much broader red-brown band than in vidua, any other form of anjana,
• Neptis anjana viduaStaudinger, 1889 (the Philippines (Palawan)is an exceedingly rare subspecies, only 1 male being known. Above black with a broad white band on hindwing and a similar but much broken macular band on forewing. The latter moreover with an obsolete, brownish transverse line before the terminal margin, contrasting with the very distinct, although narrow band on hindwing. Under surface of hindwing with three narrow, nearly parallel, violet-grey bands. Palawan, collected by Dr. Platen.

References

1. Hans Fruhstorfer in Seitz, A. 1912–1927. Die Indo-Australien Tagfalter. The Macrolepidoptera of the World9: 1–766;pdf 767–1201,pdf pls 1–175.pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

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