Nymphalidae 291164 226170375 2008-07-17T03:43:40Z 212.10.66.79 /* Notable species */ see talk page - if you can come up with something better, please do change {{Taxobox | name = Nymphalidae | image = Philaethria_hecale_2_Richard_Bartz.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = ''[[Dryadula phaetusa]]'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Lepidoptera]] | unranked_familia = [[Rhopalocera]] | superfamilia = [[Papilionoidea]] | familia = '''Nymphalidae''' | familia_authority = [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Rafinesque]], 1815 |<!-- type_species = ''Nymphalis polychloros'' | type_species_authority = ([[Large Tortoiseshell]]) [wrong, see taxobox help] --> | diversity = Over 600 genera<br/>About 5,700 species | diversity_link = Lepidopteran diversity | subdivision_ranks = [[Subfamilies]] | subdivision = *[[Apaturinae]] *[[Biblidinae]] *[[Calinaginae]] *[[Charaxinae]] *[[Cyrestinae]] *[[Danainae]] *[[Heliconiinae]] *[[Libytheinae]] *[[Limenitidinae]] *[[Morphinae]] *[[Nymphalinae]] *[[Satyrinae]] and see [[#Systematics_and_phylogeny|article text]] }} The '''Nymphalidae''' is a [[family (biology)|family]] of about 5,000 [[species]] of [[butterfly|butterflies]] which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Many species are brightly colored and they include popular species such as the emperor, admirals, tortoiseshells and fritillaries. However, the underwings are dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a [[crypsis|cryptic]] effect that helps the butterfly disappear into its surroundings. ==Classification== In adult butterflies, the first pair of legs are small or reduced, giving the family the other names of four-footed or brush-footed butterflies. The caterpillars are hairy or spiky with projections on the head, and the chrysalids have shiny spots. The [[forewing]] has the submedial vein (vein 1) unbranched and in one subfamily forked near base; medial vein with three branches, veins 2, 3 and 4; veins 5 and 6 arising from the points of junction of the discocellulars; subcostal vein and its continuation beyond apex of cell, vein 7, with never more than four branches, veins 8-11 ; 8 and 9 always arising from vein 7, 10 and also 11 sometimes from vein 7 but more often free, i.e. given off by the subcostal vein before apex of cell.<ref name="ctb">Bingham (1905)</ref> The [[hindwing]] has internal (1a) and precostal veins. The cell in both wings closed or open, often closed in the fore, open in the hind wing. Dorsal margin of hind wing channelled to receive the abdomen in many of the forms.<ref name="ctb"/> Antennae always with two grooves on the underside; club variable in shape. Throughout the family the front pair of legs in the male, and with three exceptions (''Libythea'', ''Pseudergolis'' and ''Calinaga'') in the female also, is reduced in size and functionally impotent; in some the atrophy of the fore legs is considerable, e.g. Danainae and Satyrinae In many of the forms of these subfamilies the fore legs are kept pressed against the underside of the thorax, and are in the male often very inconspicuous.<ref name="ctb"/> ===Systematics and phylogeny=== The [[phylogeny]] of the Nymphalidae is complex. Several [[taxa]] are of unclear position, reflecting the fact that some [[subfamilies]] were formerly well-recognized as distinct families due to insufficient study. There are five main [[clade]]s within the family:<ref name="wahlberg">Wahlberg ''et al.'' (2003)</ref> [[Image:American snout butterfly.jpg|thumb|[[Common Snout Butterfly]], ''Libytheana carinenta'']] The '''libytheine clade''' ([[basal (biology)|basal]]) * [[Libytheinae]] ([[Snout butterflies]]. Earlier treated as distinct family [[Libytheidae]].) [[Image:Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus Male 2664px.jpg|thumb|Male [[Monarch Butterfly]], ''Danaus plexippus'']] The '''danaine clade''' ([[basal (biology)|basal]]) * [[Danainae]] (Milkweed butterflies. Earlier treated as distinct family Danaidae.) :Host plant families include [[Apocynaceae]], [[Asclepidaceae]], and [[Moraceae]]. :* [[Ithomiini]] (About 300 Neotropical species. Sometimes considered a subfamily [[Ithomiinae]].) ::Most species with long wings, some having transparent wings. Host plants in the families [[Apocynaceae]], [[Gesneriaceae]] and [[Solanaceae]]. :* [[Tellervini]] (About 6–10 species in Australasia. Sometimes considered a subfamily [[Tellervinae]].) ::Caterpillars resemble those of the Danainae and feed on Apocynaceae. [[Image:Mohrenauge Leibnitztal.jpg|thumb|[[Large Ringlet]]s, ''[[Erebia euryale]]'']] The '''satyrine clade''' * [[Calinaginae]] (About 6 species, restricted to the Himalayas.) :Mimics of the [[Danainae]] and restricted to host plants in the family [[Moraceae]].<ref name="eob">DeVries (2001)</ref> * [[Charaxinae]] :Tropical canopy butterflies. Caterpillars often with head spines or projections. Mostly edible species with some Batesian mimics. Host plants in the families [[Annonaceae]], [[Celastraceae]], [[Convolvulaceae]], [[Euphorbiaceae]], [[Fabaceae]], [[Flacourtiaceae]], [[Lauraceae]], [[Myrtaceae]], [[Piperaceae]], [[Poaceae]], [[Rhamnaceae]], [[Rutaceae]], [[Santalaceae]] and [[Sapindaceae]].<ref name="eob"/> * [[Morphinae]] (including [[Amathusiini]], sometimes considered a subfamily [[Amathusiinae]].) :Include the spectacular neotropical ''[[Morpho]]''s. Food plants include the [[Arecaceae]], [[Bignoniaceae]], [[Fabaceae]], [[Menispermaceae]], [[Poaceae]] and [[Sapindaceae]]. :* [[Brassolini]] (Owls. Neotropical with 70–80 species. Mostly crepuscular. Sometimes considered a subfamily [[Brassolinae]].) ::Host plants in the families [[Arecaceae]], [[Bromeliaceae]], [[Heliconiaceae]], [[Musaceae]], and [[Poaceae]].<ref name="eob"/> * [[Satyrinae]] (Satyrs and Browns. Earlier treated as distinct family Satyridae.) :Host plants in the families [[Arecaceae]], [[Araceae]], [[Cyperaceae]], [[Heliconiaceae]], [[Poaceae]], and [[Selaginellaceae]]. [[Image:Heliconius.erato.JPG|thumb|[[Red Postman]], ''Heliconius erato'']] The '''heliconiine clade''' ([[sister group]] of the nymphaline clade; excludes former [[tribe (biology)|tribe]]s Biblidini and Cyrestini, and tribes Pseudergolini and Coeini.) * [[Heliconiinae]] (Earlier treated as distinct family Heliconiidae.) :Colourful tropical butterflies noted for [[mimicry|Müllerian mimicry]]. All species use host plants in the family [[Passifloraceae]]. :* [[Acraeini]] (Mostly African, but some species in Asia. Sometimes considered a family [[Acraeinae]].) ::Host plant in the families Asteraceae, Passifloraceae, Sterculiaceae, Tiliaceae and Urticaceae. * [[Limenitidinae]] [[Image:Indian Tortoiseshell Butterflly I IMG 3276.jpg|thumb|[[Indian Tortoiseshell]], ''[[Nymphalis kaschmirensis]]'']] The '''nymphaline clade''' ([[sister group]] of the heliconiine clade; also includes tribes Coeini and Pseudergolini) * [[Apaturinae]] (Mostly tropical) :Host plants in the family [[Ulmaceae]]. Caterpillars smooth with bifid tails and horns on the head.<ref name="eob"/> * [[Biblidinae]] (formerly in [[Limenitidinae]]) * [[Cyrestinae]] (formerly in [[Limenitidinae]]) * [[Nymphalinae]] (A large subfamily that sometimes includes the [[Limenitidinae]] and [[Biblidinae]].) :Some species migratory. Caterpillars sometimes covered in spines. Host plants include Acanthaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fagaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Lamiaceae, Loranthaceae, Moraceae, Plantaginaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Urticaceae and Verbenaceae.<ref name="eob"/> [[Image:Redadmiral08.JPG|thumb|A [[Red Admiral]] feeding on [[Buddleia]].]] <!--[[Image:Great Spangled Fritillary 3.jpg|thumb|right|[[Great Spangled Fritillary]], ''Speyeria cybele'']]--> ===Example species from this family=== * [[Archduke (butterfly)|Archdukes]], genus ''Lexias'' * [[California tortoiseshell]], ''Nymphalis californica'' * [[Comma (butterfly)|Comma]], ''Polygonia c-album'' * [[Junonia coenia|Common buckeye]], ''Junonia coenia'' * [[Common Snout Butterfly]], ''Libytheana carinenta'' * [[Cracker butterflies]], genus ''Hamadryas'' * [[Crimson Patch]], ''Chlosyne janais'' * [[Lorquin's Admiral]], ''Limenitis lorquini'' * [[Marsh Fritillary]], ''Euphydryas aurinia'' * [[Meadow Brown]], ''Maniolis jurtina'' * [[Mourning cloak]], ''Nymphalis antiopa'' * [[Monarch butterfly]], ''Danaus plexipus'' * [[Morpho menelaus|Blue Morpho]], ''Morpho menelaus'' * [[Vanessa cardui|Painted Lady]], ''Vanessa cardui'' * [[Peacock (butterfly)|Peacock]], ''Inachis io'' * [[Polygonia interrogationis|Question Mark]], ''Polygonia interrogationis'' * [[Red Admiral]], ''Vanessa atalanta'' * [[Small Heath butterfly|Small Heath]], ''Coenonympha pamphilus'' * [[Small Tortoiseshell]], ''Nymphalis urticae'' ==Footnotes== <div class="references-small"><references/></div> ==References== * {{aut|Bingham, C.T.}} (1905): ''Fauna of British India. Butterflies. Vol. 1.'' * {{aut|DeVries, P.J.}} (2001): [Nymphalidae]. ''In:'' {{aut|Levin, S.A.<!-- (ed.)? -->}}: ''Encyclopedia of Biodiversity''. Academic Press. * {{aut|Wahlberg, Niklas; Weingartner, Elisabet & Nylin, Sören}} (2003): Towards a better understanding of the higher systematics of Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea). ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '''28''': 473–484. <small>{{doi|10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00052-6}}</small> [http://nymphalidae.utu.fi/Wahlbergetal2003b.pdf PDF fulltext] ==External links== * ''Butterflies of North America'': Nymphalidae [http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/thumb/11.htm thumbnail images] and [http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/usa/brush-fo.htm species list]. [[United States Geological Survey]] Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. * Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility (2003): [http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/families/nymphalidae_e.php Family Nymphalidae] * [http://nymphalidae.utu.fi/ Nymphalidae Systematics Group] at [[Turku University]] * Peter Chew: [http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_butters/NYMPHALIDAE.htm Danaids and Browns - Family Nymphalidae], Brisbane butterflies web site (2005). * [[Tree of Life Web Project]]: [http://tolweb.org/Nymphalidae/12172 Nymphalidae] * [http://en.butterflycorner.net/Family-Nymphalidae.327.0.html Nymphalidae from all over the world] {{Wikispecies}} {{Lepidoptera}} [[category:Nymphalidae|*]] [[Category:Insect families]] [[da:Takvingefamilien]] [[de:Edelfalter]] [[et:Koerlibliklased]] [[es:Nymphalidae]] [[fr:Nymphalidae]] [[fy:Aureliaflinters]] [[ko:네발나비과]] [[hsb:Kadźency]] [[it:Nymphalidae]] [[lt:Pleštekės]] [[hu:Tarkalepkefélék]] [[nl:Nymphalidae]] [[ja:タテハチョウ]] [[no:Flikvinger]] [[pl:Rusałkowate]] [[pt:Nymphalidae]] [[ro:Nymphalidae]] [[sk:Babôčkovité]] [[fi:Täpläperhoset]] [[sv:Praktfjärilar]] [[vi:Họ Bướm giáp]] [[zh:蛺蝶]]