Graphium epaminondas
{{Short description|Species of butterfly}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Andaman swordtail
| image= Graphium_epaminondas_475.png
| status = VU | status_system = IUCN2.3
| genus = Graphium (butterfly)
| species = epaminondas
| authority = Oberthür, 1879
}}
Graphium epaminondas, the Andaman swordtail, is a beautiful butterfly found in India that belongs to the swallowtail family. It was earlier considered a subspecies of fivebar swordtail (Graphium antiphates) but has now been identified as a separate species.
Range
File:Oberthur 1879EtudEnt4Plate 4.jpg
Though endemic to the Andaman Islands of India, its distribution is insufficiently known. It has been seen in good numbers in Mount Harriet National Park and other locations in the Andamans.Veenakumari, K. and Prashanth Mohanraj 1997. Rediscovery of Lethe europa tamuna with notes on other threatened butterflies from the Andamans and Nicobar Islands. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 51(3):273-275 [http://research.yale.edu/peabody/jls/pdfs/1990s/1997/1997-51(3)273-Veenakumari.pdf PDF]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Description
It differs from Graphium antiphates chiefly in the greater width of the black markings on the upperside, especially of the basal and subbasal bands that cross the forewing, both of which also extend to the dorsum. On the hindwing the black markings of the underside on the basal and discal areas are not only seen by transparency from below, but are actually represented, though only partially, by black scaling; the width of the dark grey terminal portion is also greater, and it has a tendency to turn to dusky black anteriorly, so that the sub-terminal series of black lunules are obscured anteriorly and are difficult to make out. Underside: markings similar to those of the typical form, but broader; forewing with the discal transverse band that reaches from costa to vein 1; hindwing: the black bands that cross the cell broader and proportionately closer together.{{cite book |last1=Bingham |first1=C.T. |authorlink=Charles Thomas Bingham |title=The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma |url=https://archive.org/details/butterflies02bingiala |volume=II |edition=1st |publisher= Taylor and Francis, Ltd. |location=London |year=1907 }}
Has a 94–100 mm expanse.
Status
Insufficiently known.
Etymology
Named in the classical tradition to honour the Theban general Epaminondas.
See also
{{Commons category|Graphium epaminondas}}
{{Wikispecies|Graphium epaminondas}}
References
General reading
- {{cite book |last1=Collins |first1=N. Mark |last2=Morris |first2=Michael G. |title=Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/98674#page/7/mode/1up |year=1985 |publisher=IUCN |location=Gland & Cambridge |isbn=978-2-88032-603-6 |via=Biodiversity Heritage Library}}
- {{cite book |last=Evans |first1=W.H. |authorlink=William Harry Evans |title=The Identification of Indian Butterflies |edition=2nd |location=Mumbai, India |publisher=Bombay Natural History Society |year=1932 }}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1354538}}
Category:Butterflies described in 1879
Category:Taxa named by Charles Oberthür
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