Nymphalini
Encyclopedia
Nymphalini is a tribe
of nymphalid brush-footed
butterflies. Common names include admirals, anglewing
s, commas
, and tortoiseshell
s, but neither of these is specific to one particular genus
.
This monophyletic
group of nymphaline butterflies inhabiting northern hemisphere are characterized by a jagged outline of their wings and the ability to survive the winter months as adults in an obligatory hibernal
diapause
, hiding in various shelters (e.g., crevices, hollows, cavities, even unheated buildings). The signature mark of all butterflies is the cryptic colour and maculation of the ventral (under) side of their wings, serving to conceal the hibernating butterfly against the substrate on which it rests.
The monotypic
genus Tigridia
is sometimes placed here as a very basal offshoot close to Colobura, sometimes in the related tribe Coeini
.
Prehistoric genera only known from fossil
s are:
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
of nymphalid brush-footed
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...
butterflies. Common names include admirals, anglewing
Anglewing
Anglewing butterflies — sensu Schiffermueller, [1775]A monophyletic group of nymphaline butterflies inhabiting Northern hemisphere, characterized by a jagged outline of their wings and the ability to survive the winter months as adults in an obligatory hibernal diapause, hiding in various...
s, commas
Polygonia
Polygonia is a genus of butterflies with a conspicuous white mark on the underside of each hindwing, hence the common name Comma. They also have conspicuous angular notches on the outer edges of their forewings, hence the other common name Anglewing butterflies...
, and tortoiseshell
Aglais
Aglais is a genus of brush-footed butterflies, containing the Tortoiseshells. This genus is sometimes included as a subgenus of Nymphalis, which also includes Tortoiseshells, but it is usually considered to be separate.-Species:...
s, but neither of these is specific to one particular genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
.
This monophyletic
Monophyly
In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it contains all the descendants of the possibly hypothetical closest common ancestor of the members of the group. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
group of nymphaline butterflies inhabiting northern hemisphere are characterized by a jagged outline of their wings and the ability to survive the winter months as adults in an obligatory hibernal
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
diapause
Diapause
Diapause is the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions. It is considered to be a physiological state of dormancy with very specific initiating and inhibiting conditions...
, hiding in various shelters (e.g., crevices, hollows, cavities, even unheated buildings). The signature mark of all butterflies is the cryptic colour and maculation of the ventral (under) side of their wings, serving to conceal the hibernating butterfly against the substrate on which it rests.
Genera
Listed alphabetically.- AglaisAglaisAglais is a genus of brush-footed butterflies, containing the Tortoiseshells. This genus is sometimes included as a subgenus of Nymphalis, which also includes Tortoiseshells, but it is usually considered to be separate.-Species:...
Dalman, 1816 – tortoiseshells - AntanartiaAntanartiaAntanartia, commonly called Admirals, is a genus in the Nymphalidae family found in southern Africa. They live along forest edges and are strongly attracted to rotting fruit and plant juices...
Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 – African red admirals - AraschniaAraschniaAraschnia is a genus is the Nymphalidae family found in Asia.-Species:* Araschnia burejana * Araschnia davidis Poujade, 1885* Araschnia dohertyi Moore, 1899* Araschnia doris Leech, 1893...
Hübner, 1819 - ColoburaColoburaColobura is a genus in the Nymphalidae family found from Mexico to South America.-Species:There are two recognised species:*Colobura dirce – Zebra Mosaic*Colobura annulata Willmot, Constantino & Hall, 2001 – New Beauty...
Billberg, 1820 - HypanartiaHypanartiaHypanartia, commonly called mapwings, is a genus in the Nymphalidae family found from Mexico to South America.-Species:* Hypanartia bella – Bella Mapwing* Hypanartia celestia Lamas, Willmott & Hall, 2001...
HübnerJacob HübnerJacob Hübner was a German entomologist. He was the author of Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge , a founding work of entomology.-Scientific career:...
, 1821 – mapwings - Inachis – European Peacock (often in Aglais)
- KaniskaKaniska canaceThe Blue Admiral is the only species of the genus, Kaniska, a nymphalid butterfly found as far north as southeastern Siberia, west to Japan and Korea, east to India and south to Sri Lanka, Burma and parts of Indonesia...
Moore, 1899 – Blue Admiral (often in Polygonia) - MynesMynesMynes is a butterfly genus in the Nymphalidae family found in Australia and Indonesia.-Species:* Mynes anemone Vane-Wright, 1976* Mynes aroensis Ribbe, 1900* Mynes doubledayi Wallace, 1869* Mynes eucosmetus Godman & Salvin, 1879...
Boisduval, 1832 - NymphalisNymphalisNymphalis, commonly known as Tortoiseshells, is a genus of brush-footed butterflies. The genera Aglais, Inachis, Polygonia, and Kaniska, are sometimes included as subgenera of Nymphalis but they are usually considered to be unique genera. See also Anglewing butterflies...
Kluk, 1781 – anglewings, tortoiseshells - PolygoniaPolygoniaPolygonia is a genus of butterflies with a conspicuous white mark on the underside of each hindwing, hence the common name Comma. They also have conspicuous angular notches on the outer edges of their forewings, hence the other common name Anglewing butterflies...
Hübner, 1819 – anglewings, commas - PycinaPycinaPycina is a genus of butterflies in the Nymphalidae family found from Mexico to South America.-Species:There are two recognised species:*Pycina zamba Doubleday, 1849*Pycina zelys Godman & Salvin, 1884-References:* , funet.fi...
Doubleday, 1849 (tentatively placed here) - SmyrnaSmyrna (butterfly)Smyrna is a genus in the Nymphalidae family found from Mexico to South America.-Species:* Smyrna blomfildia – Blomfild's Beauty* Smyrna karwinskii Geyer, 1833 – Karwinski's Beauty...
Hübner, 1823 - SymbrenthiaSymbrenthiaSymbrenthia, commonly called jesters, is a genus in the Nymphalidae family found south-eastern Asia-Species:* Symbrenthia anna Semper, 1888* Symbrenthia brabira Moore, 1872* Symbrenthia doni – Tytler's Jester...
Hübner, 1819 – jesters - VanessaVanessa (butterfly)Vanessa is a genus of brush-footed butterflies. Many people are familiar with it, as it has a near-global distribution and includes conspicuous species such as the red admirals , the Kamehameha, and the painted ladies of subgenus Cynthia: Painted Lady, American Painted Lady, Australian Painted...
Fabricius, 1807 – red admirals, Kamehameha butterflies, painted ladies
The monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus Tigridia
Tigridia (butterfly)
Tigridia acesta is a butterfly of the monotypic genus Tigridia in the Nymphalidae family found from Mexico to South America.It is sometimes placed in the tribe Coeini and sometimes in the tribe Nymphalini.-Subspecies:...
is sometimes placed here as a very basal offshoot close to Colobura, sometimes in the related tribe Coeini
Coeini
Coeini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies.- List of genera :* Baeotus Hemming, 1939* Colobura Billberg, 1820* Historis Hübner, 1819* Pycina Doubleday, 1849* Smyrna Hübner, 1823...
.
Prehistoric genera only known from fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s are:
- †Jupitella Carpenter, 1985
- †Mylothrites Scudder, 1875