Adelpha
Heterochroa currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym
Andrew V. Z. Brower
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close boxIntroduction
The genus Adelpha is a diverse radiation of neotropical limenitidines. Many are brown with orange forewing patches and white stripes, and it is suggested that there is mimicry among geographically sympatric species. The genus has been revised recently by Willmott (2003a, b). Although Willmott recognizes a number of groups based on similarity of wing patterns, only those species groups that appear as clades in his phylogenetic analysis are indicated here.
Two additional species of Adelpha were recently split out of the widespread "California sister," Adelpha bredowii (now recognized as a Mexican endemic) by Prudic et al. (2008).
Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
The tree shown is based on the phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters by Willmott (2003), using successive approximations weighting (his Fig. 8). Adelpha californica (from California and the Pacific Northwest) and Adelpha eulalia (ranging from southwestern U. S. to Guatemala) have been added to the tree in the positions indicated by Prudic et al. (2008).
References
Lamas G ed. 2004. Checklist: Part 4A Hesperioidea - Papiionoidea. Gainesville: Scientific Publishers/Association of Tropical Lepidoptera.
Prudic, K. L., Warren, A. D. & Llorente Bousquets, J. 2008 Molecular and morphological evidence reveals three species within the California sister butterfly, Adelpha bredowii (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Limenitidinae). Zootaxa 1819.
Willmott KR. 2003a. Cladistic analysis of the neotropical butterfly genus Adelpha (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), with comments on the subtribal classification of Limenitidini. Syst. Ent. 28: 279-322.
Willmott KR. 2003b. The genus Adelpha: its systematics, biology and biogeography (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Limenitidini). Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FLA.
Willmott KR, and Hall JPW. 1995. Two new species of Adelpha from eastern Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Tropical Lepidoptera 6: 106-109.
Willmott KR, and Hall JPW. 1999. Taxonomic notes on Ecuadorean Adelpha, with the description of two new species and seven new subspecies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Limenitidinae). Tropical Lepidoptera 10: 1-17.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Adelpha fessonia |
|---|---|
| Location | Frontera Audubon, Weslaco, Texas, USA |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Source | DSX_00283a |
| Source Collection | Flickr |
| Image Use |
 This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License - Version 2.0.
|
| Copyright | © 2008 Jerry Oldenettel |
| Scientific Name | Adelpha salus salus |
|---|---|
| Location | Reserva La Romera, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Identified By | Keith Willmott |
| Life Cycle Stage | Adult |
| Copyright |
©
|
| Scientific Name | Adelpha californica |
|---|---|
| Location | Castlerock Park, Skyline (Santa Cruz County, California, USA) |
| Comments | The former species "Adelpha bredowii" has been split into three species. True A. bredowii is endemic to Mexico (Prudic et al. 2008). |
| Reference | Prudic, K.L., Warren, A.D. & Llorente Bousquets, J. (2008) Molecular and morphological evidence reveals three species within the California sister butterfly, Adelpha bredowii (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Limenitidinae). Zootaxa 1819. |
| Creator | Photograph by T. W. Davies |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Source | Adelpha bredowii; California sister butterfly |
| Source Collection | CalPhotos |
| Copyright |
© 1999 California Academy of Sciences
|
About This Page
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Andrew V. Z. Brower at
Page copyright © 2006
Page: Tree of Life
Adelpha . Heterochroa currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym.
Authored by
Andrew V. Z. Brower.
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- First online 08 November 2006
- Content changed 18 July 2008
Citing this page:
Brower, Andrew V. Z. 2008. Adelpha . Heterochroa currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym. Version 18 July 2008 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Adelpha/70382/2008.07.18 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
