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Leptotes (butterfly)
Encyclopedia
Leptotes is a butterfly
genus
in the family
Lycaenidae
. They are commonly known as zebra blues in reference to their zebra
-striped undersides.
Several species
have recently been moved here from the genus Tarucus
, a rather close relative. An even closer relative, however, seems to be Cyclyrius
.
s, as well as one more isolated species:
Afrotropical species:
Neotropical species:
Placement uncertain:
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...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
. They are commonly known as zebra blues in reference to their zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
-striped undersides.
Several species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
have recently been moved here from the genus Tarucus
Tarucus
Tarucus is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. They are commonly known as blue pierrots or simply "pierrots". But the latter name is often used for the very closely related genus Castalius. In fact, the delimitation of Castalius versus Tarucus is not yet fully resolved, with some species,...
, a rather close relative. An even closer relative, however, seems to be Cyclyrius
Cyclyrius
Cyclyrius is a genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae....
.
Species
The genus can be divided in two distinct geographic groups which are possible cladeClade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
s, as well as one more isolated species:
Afrotropical species:
- Leptotes adamsoni Collins & Larsen, 1991 – Adamson's Zebra Blue
- Leptotes babaultiLeptotes babaultiBabault's Zebra Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the Afrotropic ecozone.The wingspan is 22–29 mm for males and 26–30 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, with a peak from November to April....
– Babault's Zebra Blue - Leptotes brevidentatusLeptotes brevidentatusThe Short-toothed Blue or Tite's Zebra Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara and south-western Arabia.The wingspan is 22-29 mm for males and 26-30 mm for females...
(Tite, 1958) – Tite's Zebra Blue - Leptotes casca (Tite, 1958)
- Leptotes cassioides (Capronnier, 1889)
- Leptotes jeanneliLeptotes jeanneliJeannel’s Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara.The wingspan is 22-29 mm for males and 26-30 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, with a peak from November to April....
(Stempffer, 1935) - Leptotes marginalis Aurivillius, 1924 – Black-bordered Zebra Blue
- Leptotes mayottensis (Tite, 1958)
- Leptotes pirithousLeptotes pirithousLeptotes pirithous is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from southern Europe to the Himalayas and in most of Africa. Its common names are Lang's Short-tailed Blue and Common Zebra Blue...
– Lang's Short-tailed Blue, Common Zebra Blue - Leptotes pulcherLeptotes pulcherThe Beautiful Zebra Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara.The wingspan is 18-24 mm for males and 18-26 mm for females...
(Murray, 1874) – Beautiful Zebra Blue - Leptotes rabenafer (Mabille, 1877)
- Leptotes socotranus (Ogilvie-Grant, 1899)
- Leptotes terrenus (Joicey & Talbot, 1926)
Neotropical species:
- Leptotes andicola (Godman & Salvin, 1891)
- Leptotes bathyllos Dyar, 1913
- Leptotes callanga (Dyar, 1913)
- Leptotes cassiusLeptotes cassiusLeptotes cassius, commonly known as the Cassius Blue or Tropical Striped Blue, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Florida and the Keys, Texas south through the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America to South America...
– Cassius Blue, Tropical Striped Blue - Leptotes delalande Bálint & Johnson, 1995
- Leptotes lamasi Bálint & Johnson, 1995
- Leptotes marinaLeptotes marinaThe Marine Blue or Striped Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in from South America through Mexico up to Southern Texas, Arizona and California.The wingspan is 22–29 mm...
– Marine Blue, Striped Blue - Leptotes parrhasioides (Wallengren, 1860) – Galapagos Blue
- Leptotes perkinsae Kaye, 1931
- Leptotes trigemmatus (Butler, 1881)
Placement uncertain:
- Leptotes plinius – Zebra Blue, Plumbago Blue