Cymothoe sangaris is a species of butterfly

Butterfly

A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...

 of the Nymphalidae

Nymphalidae

The Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These 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...

 family. It is found in Central Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

.

Some authors believe the species should be split into separate species. They base this on morphologic characteristics (mainly in the females) and DNA-research. The new species would be speciliased in one food plant.

Currently, the following subspecies are recognised:

• Cymothoe sangaris sangaris (Sierra Leone to Nigeria)
• Cymothoe sangaris rubrior (Central Zaire)
• Cymothoe sangaris luluana (Kasai, Shaba and Sankuru in Zaire)

The larvae feed on Rinorea

Rinorea

Rinorea is a genus of plant in family Violaceae.Species include:* Rinorea antioquiensis, Smith & Fernández* Rinorea bicornuta, Hekking* Rinorea brachythrix, Blake* Rinorea cordata, Smith & Fernández* Rinorea crenata, Blake...

species.