Coenonympha
Encyclopedia
Coenonympha is a butterfly
genus
. It belongs to the Coenonymphina, a subtribe of the "browns" (Satyrinae
). The latter are a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae
). As a rule, Palearctic
species are colloquially called "heaths", while Nearctic
ones are called "ringlets". Neither term is limited to members of this genus, however.
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...
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...
. It belongs to the Coenonymphina, a subtribe of the "browns" (Satyrinae
Satyrinae
Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the Browns, is a subfamily of the Nymphalidae . They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known diversity of brush-footed butterflies...
). The latter are a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies (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...
). As a rule, Palearctic
Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth's surface.Physically, the Palearctic is the largest ecozone...
species are colloquially called "heaths", while Nearctic
Nearctic
The Nearctic is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones dividing the Earth's land surface.The Nearctic ecozone covers most of North America, including Greenland and the highlands of Mexico...
ones are called "ringlets". Neither term is limited to members of this genus, however.