''Papilio fernandus'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

swallowtail butterfly Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the large ...

from the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Papilio ''Papilio'' is a genus in the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae, as well as the only representative of the tribe Papilionini. The word ''papilio'' is Latin for butterfly. It includes the common yellow swallowtail (''Papilio machaon''), ...

'' that is found in

Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial; french: Guinée équatoriale; pt, Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( es, link=no, República de Guinea Ecuatorial, french: link=no, République de Guinée équatoria ...

Taxonomy

It is a member of the ''zenobia''

species group In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

. In the ''zenobia'' group the basic upperside wing pattern is black with white or yellowish bands and spots. The underside is brown and basally there is a red area marked with black stripes and spots. In the discal area there is a yellowish band with black stripes and veins. Females resemble ''

Amauris ''Amauris'' is a genus of nymphalid butterflies in the Danainae subfamily. ''Amauris niavius niavius'', ''Amauris echeria jacksoni'', and ''Amauris dominicanus'' are mimicked by ''Papilio dardanus'' females. Other mimics of ''Amauris'' are fou ...

'' butterflies. Both sexes lack tails. The

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

members are: *'' Papilio cyproeofila'' Butler, 1868 *''Papilio fernandus'' Fruhstorfer, 1903 *''

Papilio filaprae ''Papilio filaprae'' is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. The species was first described by ...

'' Suffert, 1904 *''

Papilio gallienus ''Papilio gallienus'', the narrow-banded swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the central part of the Republic of the Congo. Taxonomy ''Papilio gallie ...

'' Distant, 1879 *''

Papilio mechowi ''Papilio mechowi'' is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae found in Africa. Subspecies *''Papilio mechowi mechowi'' (Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic, southern Sudan, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, Angola) *''Papilio mechowi whitnall ...

'' Dewitz, 1881 *''

Papilio mechowianus ''Papilio mechowianus'' is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Angola and the Republic of the Congo. Taxonomy It is a member of the ''zenobia'' species group. In the ''zenobia'' group the basic uppers ...

'' Dewitz, 1885 *''

Papilio nobicea ''Papilio nobicea'', the Volta swallowtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in Ghana and Togo. The habitat consists of forests in mountainous terrain. Taxonomy It is a member of the ''zenobia'' species group. In the ''ze ...

'' Suffert, 1904 *''

Papilio zenobia ''Papilio zenobia'', the Zenobia swallowtail or Volta swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the ...

'' Fabricius, 1775

Description

It is very similar to '' Papilio cyproeofila'' and the very short description of ''P. fernandus'' places it as a local race of ''P. cyproeofila'

Gallery

File:Papilio gallienus Distant, 1879.JPG, ''

'' File:Papilio mechowi Dewitz, 1881.JPG, ''

'' File:Papilio mechowianus.JPG, ''

'' File:Papilio zenobia.JPG, ''

References

Bibliography

*Fruhstorfer, 1903 Papilio cypraeafila icfernandus nov. subspec Fruhstorfer, 1903 '' Stettin ent. Ztg'' 64 (2) : 36

External links

Global Butterfly Information System
Images (as subgenus ''Druryia'') fernandus Butterflies described in 1903 Butterflies of Africa Taxa named by Hans Fruhstorfer {{Papilionidae-stub