Nymphalini

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Nymphalini
Inachis io2.jpg
Aglais io
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Tribe: Nymphalini
Rafinesque, 1815 [1]
Genera

Numerous, see text

Nymphalini is a tribe of nymphalid brush-footed butterflies. Common names include admirals , anglewings, commas , and tortoiseshells , but none of these is specific to one particular genus.

The name anglewing butterflies is an English translation of a Latin term papiliones angulati, [ Denis & Schiffermüller ], ([1775, 1776]). Based on an overall similarity in the angulate wing shape, a collective name: Papiliones angulati was employed for Papilio atalanta, P. antiopa, P. cardui, P. c-album, P. io, P. polychloros, P. urticae, P. xanthomelas, P. vaualbum, P. levana and P. prorsa. The term papiliones angulati is applied as a collective taxon name, which therefore needs no type species as specified in Article 42.3.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Papiliones angulati has thus been re-defined to apply only to a clade: Nymphalis sensu lato , and to specifically exclude Papilio atalanta [→ Vanessa ], P. cardui [→ Cynthia ], P. levana, and P. prorsa [→ Araschnia ].

This monophyletic group of nymphaline butterflies inhabiting the Northern Hemisphere are characterized by a jagged outline of their wings and the ability to survive the winter months as adults in an obligatory hibernal diapause, hiding in various shelters (e.g., crevices, hollows, cavities, even unheated buildings). The signature mark of all butterflies is the cryptic colour and maculation (spots) of the ventral (under) side of their wings, serving to conceal the hibernating butterfly against the substrate on which it rests.

Genera

Listed alphabetically: [1] [2]

The monotypic genus Tigridia is sometimes placed here as a very basal offshoot close to Colobura , sometimes in the related tribe Coeini.

Prehistoric genera only known from fossils are:

Related Research Articles

<i>Nymphalis</i> genus of insects

Nymphalis, commonly known as the tortoiseshells or anglewing butterflies, is a genus of brush-footed butterflies. The genera Aglais, Inachis, Polygonia and Kaniska, were sometimes included as subgenera of Nymphalis but they may instead be treated as distinct genera. See also anglewing butterflies. For other butterflies named tortoiseshells, see the genus Aglais.

<i>Aglais</i> genus of brush-footed butterflies

Aglais is a Holarctic genus of brush-footed butterflies, containing the tortoiseshells. This genus is sometimes indicated as a subgenus of Nymphalis or simply being an unnecessary division from the genus Nymphalis, which also includes tortoiseshells, but it is usually considered to be separate. This proposed separate genus is also considered "brushfooted butterflies" historically together with the other or separate Nymphalis species.

In the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, Carl Linnaeus classified the arthropods, including insects, arachnids and crustaceans, among his class "Insecta". Butterflies and moths were brought together under the name Lepidoptera. Linnaeus divided the group into three genera – Papilio, Sphinx and Phalaena. The first two, together with the seven subdivisions of the third, are now used as the basis for nine superfamily names: Papilionoidea, Sphingoidea, Bombycoidea, Noctuoidea, Geometroidea, Torticoidea, Pyraloidea, Tineoidea and Alucitoidea.

References

  1. 1 2 Nymphalini, Tree of Life
  2. ↑ Tribe Nymphalini at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms


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