Regent skipper | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Hesperiidae |
Subfamily: |
Euschemoninae Kirby, 1897 |
Genus: |
Euschemon Doubleday, 1846 |
Species: | E. rafflesia
|
Binomial name | |
Euschemon rafflesia (
Macleay, [1827])
| |
Synonyms | |
Several, see text |
Euschemon is a genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Euschemon rafflesia, commonly known as the regent skipper and is found in Australia. [1]
It was formerly often included in the tribe Tagiadini of the subfamily of spread-winged skippers, Pyrginae. However, it seems to be the single most distinct living skipper butterfly. Consequently, it is treated as a monotypic subfamily Euschemoninae, as was first proposed by William Forsell Kirby as early as 1897. [1]
The regent skipper, in addition to the systematic uncertainties that have surrounded it for long, is a rather variable species. Consequently, it has been treated under a variety of names, which are nowadays considered junior synonyms. For example:
William Sharp Macleay named the butterfly after Sir Stamford Raffles "to whose scientific ardour and indefatigable exertions in Java and Sumatra, every naturalist must feel himself indebted." [2]
The regent skipper is quite small relative to most butterflies, however, it is large relative to most species in the family Hesperiidae. Its common name refers to the gaudy coloration; mostly black with conspicuous yellow and red dots and bands.
A notable trait of this butterfly are the males' frenulum and retinaculum which couple the fore- and hindwing together in flight. This structure is presumably plesiomorphic for most or all Macrolepidoptera, but is absent in all known Rhopalocera (butterflies) except the regent skipper and the Hedylidae ( moth-butterflies). [1]
Regent skipper | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Hesperiidae |
Subfamily: |
Euschemoninae Kirby, 1897 |
Genus: |
Euschemon Doubleday, 1846 |
Species: | E. rafflesia
|
Binomial name | |
Euschemon rafflesia (
Macleay, [1827])
| |
Synonyms | |
Several, see text |
Euschemon is a genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Euschemon rafflesia, commonly known as the regent skipper and is found in Australia. [1]
It was formerly often included in the tribe Tagiadini of the subfamily of spread-winged skippers, Pyrginae. However, it seems to be the single most distinct living skipper butterfly. Consequently, it is treated as a monotypic subfamily Euschemoninae, as was first proposed by William Forsell Kirby as early as 1897. [1]
The regent skipper, in addition to the systematic uncertainties that have surrounded it for long, is a rather variable species. Consequently, it has been treated under a variety of names, which are nowadays considered junior synonyms. For example:
William Sharp Macleay named the butterfly after Sir Stamford Raffles "to whose scientific ardour and indefatigable exertions in Java and Sumatra, every naturalist must feel himself indebted." [2]
The regent skipper is quite small relative to most butterflies, however, it is large relative to most species in the family Hesperiidae. Its common name refers to the gaudy coloration; mostly black with conspicuous yellow and red dots and bands.
A notable trait of this butterfly are the males' frenulum and retinaculum which couple the fore- and hindwing together in flight. This structure is presumably plesiomorphic for most or all Macrolepidoptera, but is absent in all known Rhopalocera (butterflies) except the regent skipper and the Hedylidae ( moth-butterflies). [1]