Kallima

{{Short description|Genus of butterflies}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Automatic_taxobox

| name = Oakleafs

| image = Kallima inachus1.jpg

| image_caption = Kallima inachus, showing the leaf-like appearance of the closed wings, which is typical of the genus.

| image2 =Indian Leaf butterfly (Kallima paralekta) 2.jpg

| image2_caption = Kallima paralekta, male showing the brilliant colors of the upper surfaces of the wings.

| taxon = Kallima

| authority = Doubleday, 1849

| type_species = Paphia paralekta

| type_species_authority = Horsfield, [1829]

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = See text

| synonyms =

}}

Kallima, known as the oakleaf or oak leaf butterflies, is a genus of butterflies of the subfamily Nymphalinae in the family Nymphalidae. They are found in east, south and southeast Asia. Their common name is a reference to the lower surface of their wings, which is various shades of brown like a dead leaf.

When the wings are held closed, this results in a remarkable masquerade of a dead leaf, further emphasized by their wing shape.{{cite book |last1=Cott |first1=Hugh |authorlink=Hugh B. Cott |title=Adaptive Coloration in Animals |date=1940 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=318–320}}

Taxonomy

This genus has traditionally also included a number of African species, but they are now usually placed in Kallimoides, Junonia (alternatively in Kamilla) and Mallika. The following species are currently members of the genus Kallima:[http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/nymphalinae/kallima/#11801 "Kallima Doubleday, [1849]"] at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms{{cite journal|author=Takashi Shirôzu & Akinori Nakanishi|year=1984|title=A revision of the genus Kallima Doubleday (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)|journal=Tyô to Ga|volume=34|issue=3|pages=97–110|url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110007707515/en}}

Gallery

File:Kallima.philarchus.jpg|Kallima philarchus

File:Kallima paralekta paralekta femelle.jpg|Kallima paralekta female

File:Blue Oakleaf (Kallima horsfieldii).jpg|Kallima horsfieldii

File:Orange oak leaf.JPG|Kallima inachus

File:Kallima.limborgi.tribonia.jpg|Kallima limborgi

==References==

{{Commons}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1768045}}

Category:Kallimini

Category:Butterflies of Asia

Category:Butterfly genera

Category:Taxa named by Edward Doubleday