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.
Precis is a genus of nymphalid butterflies that Jacob Hübner described in 1819. They are commonly known as commodores and are found in Africa. Two species are endemic to Madagascar.
Precis octavia, the gaudy commodore, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is native to Africa.
Precis archesia, the garden inspector or garden commodore, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, native to Subsaharan Africa.
Precis tugela, the African leaf butterfly or eared commodore, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in eastern and southern Africa, ranging from Ethiopia to South Africa. It is commonly included in the genus Junonia rather than Precis.
Precis antilope, the darker commodore, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, found in the dry season and is native to Subsaharan Africa.
Precis ceryne, the marsh commodore, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, native to Subsaharan Africa.
Protogoniomorpha parhassus, the forest mother-of-pearl or common mother-of-pearl, is a species of Nymphalidae butterfly found in forested areas of Africa.
Precis pelarga, the fashion commodore, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae which is native to tropical sub-Saharan Africa.
Precis andremiaja is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found on Madagascar. The habitat consists of forest margins and anthropogenic environments. J. andremiaja is said by Mr. Cowan to be "common in houses on warm days".
Precis coelestina, the ocellated commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, western Kenya, southern Sudan, western Ethiopia and Somalia. The habitat consists of semi montane areas.
Precis cuama, the paler commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Shaba), eastern and central Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of savanna and open woodland, especially in rocky areas.
Precis eurodoce, the Madagascar commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found on Madagascar. The habitat consists of forests.
Precis frobeniusi, the toothed commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and northern Nigeria. The habitat consists of stream beds in dry, hilly areas in savanna.
Precis limnoria, the white-spotted commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. The habitat consists of savanna and thorn-bush country, especially rocky terrain.
Precis milonia, the broad-banded commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The habitat consists of primary lowland forests.
Precis rauana, the montane commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Nigeria, from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. The habitat consists of forests.
Precis sinuata, the wide-banded commodore, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. The habitat consists of forests and woodland.
