Polyura | |
---|---|
Polyura schreiber | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Nymphalidae |
Genus: | Charaxes |
Subgenus: | Polyura Billberg, 1820 |
Species | |
Many, see text |
Polyura is a subgenus of butterflies also referred to as Nawab butterflies [1] [2] and belonging to the brush-footed butterfly subfamily Charaxinae, or leafwing butterflies. Like the large and conspicuous forest queens (subgenus Euxanthe ), they belong to the genus Charaxes , unique genus of the tribe Charaxini. [3] [4]
Polyura butterflies are native to the Indomalayan and Australasian realms. They are widespread from Pakistan to Okinawa Island, and from China to Pacific Islands (Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu).
The subgenus was revised in 1982 by Robert Leslie Smiles based on morphological characters. [2]
The genus Polyura was synonymized with the genus Charaxes in 2009 in a study investigating phylogenetic relationships among Charaxini using DNA sequencing. [3] However the genus Charaxes comprises many morphologically very different groups such as the subgenera Euxanthe and Polyura. A phylogenomic study is ongoing to resolve the phylogenetic placements of these different groups. The sister-group to Polyura seems to comprise the African species Charaxes paphianus and Charaxes pleione . [3] [4] Southeast Asian species of the genus Charaxes do not seem to be closely related to species of the subgenus Polyura. [3]
A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the subgenus as well as several taxonomic studies have allowed a complete revision of the group. [4] [5] [6] A follow-up study investigating the biogeographical history of the subgenus suggested an origin in the Miocene about 12 million years ago in mainland Asia. The Australasian region was colonized later through dispersal.
The subgenus is divided in three morphological groups supported by molecular phylogenetics: [4] [5] [6]
P. athamas group:
P. eudamippus group:
P. pyrrhus group:
Polyura athamas, the common nawab, is a species of fast-flying canopy butterfly found in tropical Asia. It belongs to the Charaxinae in the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae).
Polyura arja, the pallid nawab, is a butterfly belonging to the rajahs and nawabs group, that is, the Charaxinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Charaxes agrarius, the anomalous nawab, is a butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the rajahs and nawabs group, that is, the Charaxinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family. The name is based on their resemblance to the common nawab, which was described before the discovery of this species.
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.
Charaxes brutus, the white-barred emperor or white-barred Charaxes, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Africa.
Charaxes druceanus, the silver-barred emperor or silver-barred charaxes, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found throughout tropical Africa.
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.
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 antiquus is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found on the island of São Tomé. The habitat consists of forests and woodland. The species was named by James John Joicey and George Talbot in 1926.
Charaxes pollux, the black-bordered charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Charaxes dowsetti is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found on the Nyika Plateau in Malawi. The habitat consists of montane forests at altitudes above 2,200 meters.
Charaxes tectonis, the mountain silver-barred charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Nigeria and Cameroon. The habitat consists of sub-montane and montane forests.
Charaxes lucyae is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Tanzania.
Charaxes musakensis is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon. The habitat consists of montane forests at altitudes above 1,300 meters.
Charaxes imperialis, the imperial blue charaxes, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
Polyura narcaeus, the China nawab, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1854. It is found in the Palearctic and Indomalayan realms.
Charaxes (Polyura) caphontis is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1863. It is endemic to Fiji.
Charaxes (Polyura) clitarchus is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1874. It is endemic to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands.
Charaxes (Polyura) dehanii is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by John Obadiah Westwood in 1850. It is found in the Indomalayan realm in Java and Sumatra.