ABSTRACT
The first phylogenetic hypotheses for the high Andean satyrine butterfly genus Altopedaliodes is proposed based on sequence data from mitochondrial (COI and COII) and nuclear (EF-1α) genes. Four species previously included in the genus were found not to be closely related to the clade containing the type species for Altopedaliodes, and these species are therefore removed and placed in the appropriate genus: Pedaliodes cocytia (C. Felder and R. Felder, 1867) n. comb., Pedaliodes nebris Thieme 1905rev. comb., Neopedaliodes tamaensis (Pyrcz and Viloria 2007) n. comb., and Altopedaliodes similis Henao, Páez and Rodríguez-M., 2017; the last name is here synonymized with Pedaliodes nebris (Thieme 1905) n. syn. A taxonomic revision of the twelve species in Altopedaliodes as newly circumscribed is presented and all the currently recognized taxa are revised. We describe two new species, A. llanganati Padrón, Pyrcz and Willmott n. sp. (Ecuador, Napo) and A. pilimbala Pyrcz and Boyer n. sp. (Colombia, Cauca), and three new subspecies, A. reissi papallacta Padrón, Pyrcz and Willmott n. ssp. (Ecuador, Napo), A. reissi dominica Pyrcz and Padrón n. ssp. (Colombia, Valle del Cauca) and A. halli cagnoni Boyer, Pyrcz and Padrón n. ssp. (Ecuador, Morona-Santiago). A new status is proposed for A. nucea Pyrcz and Viloria 1999, n. stat., we combine Altopedaliodes scydmaena (Hayward, 1968) n. comb. and Altopedaliodes belmira (Pyrcz and Rodríguez, 2004), n. comb., n. stat. into the genus and treat the latter taxon as a species, and we newly treat Altopedaliodes scydmaena kruegeri Pyrcz 1999n. stat. as a subspecies.
Subject(s)
Butterflies , Altitude , Animals , Butterflies/classification , Colombia , PhylogenyABSTRACT
The discovery of a new species of satyrine butterfly, Magneuptychia louisammour Benmesbah Zacca, sp. n., that is phenotypically similar to a sympatric species widely known as Magneuptychia ocypete (Fabricius, 1776), led to a review of the taxonomic status of M. ocypete. A neotype for Papilio ocypete Fabricius, 1776 is designated and its redescription is provided. Neonympha sabina C. Felder R. Felder, 1867 and Euptychia helle var. olivacea Aurivillius, 1929 are treated as junior subjective synonyms of P. ocypete and a lectotype is designated for each name. A neotype for the preoccupied name Papilio helle Cramer, 1779, and its replacement name Magneuptychia fugitiva Lamas, [1997], is also designated, and a redescription of this name and discussion of its taxonomic status are provided. We describe an additional phenotypically similar species, Magneuptychia kamel Benmesbah Zacca, sp. n. from the western Amazon and raise the name Magneuptychia opima sheba Brévignon Benmesbah, 2012 to species rank (stat. rev.) on the basis of morphological and DNA sequence evidence. We also discuss the difficulties regarding taxonomic and geographical delimitation in these complex species groups. Observations on Euptychiina behaviour are also provided. Finally, based on external characters and male genitalia, a proposed preliminary arrangement of two species groups is proposed, including other species of Magneuptychia Forster, 1964 and Cissia Doubleday, 1848.
Subject(s)
Animal Distribution , Butterflies , Animals , Geography , Male , South AmericaABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Sepona Freitas and Barbosa, gen. nov. is proposed for the Neotropical satyrine butterfly species Euptychia punctataWeymer, 1911 and its junior subjective synonyms Euptychia griseolaWeymer, 1911 and Taygetis indecisa Ribeiro, 1931. The new genus has a distinctive wing pattern and shape of the valvae in the male genitalia, the latter being a unique autapomorphy within the subtribe Euptychiina. Based on molecular data, this genus is not sister to any other single euptychiine genus, instead appearing as the sister to all remaining genera in the Taygetis clade. The present paper illustrates the complexity of the taxonomy of Euptychiina, and the importance of using different sources of evidence in taxonomic studies.
