Morpho theseus
| Theseus Morpho | |
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| subspecies justitia Godman and Salvin Image from Plate in
Biologia Centrali-Americanum (1879-1915) | |
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| Species: | M. theseus
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| Binomial name | |
| Morpho theseus (Deyrolle, 1860)
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The Theseus Morpho (Morpho theseus) is a Neotropical butterfly. It is found in Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Honduras and Guatemala.
Description
"Morpho theseus apparently replaces hercules in Central America and the Andean region. It is less constant than hercules, inclining to geographical and probably also to climatic variation, has somewhat narrower wings than hercules and is distinguished from all other Morphids by the long, pointed teeth of the hindwing." [1] Note Morpho amphitryon, which was considered a race of Morpho theseus by Fruhstorfer also has the "pointed teeth" or scalloping.
-theseus Deyr. is the Colombian typical form, found in Muzo and in so-called Bogota consignments,which it is well-known really come from the low-lying country, just as the so-called Darjeeling collections were likewise not made at Darjeeling, but in the hot valleys of the Testa. Ground-colour brown inclining to olive-green, base only quite faintly suffused with whitish. Cell black-brown at the extremity and with an inconspicuous whitish spot before the apex. Forewing with only two distinct rows of yellowish patches.[1]
Many subspecies have been described.
Etymology
Theseus was a legendary king of Athens.
References
- Le Moult (E.) & Réal (P.), 1962-1963. Les Morpho d'Amérique du Sud et Centrale, Editions du cabinet entomologique E. Le Moult, Paris.
External links
- Funetfi
- Butterflies of America Images of type and other specimens.
- NSG Photographs of voucher specimen.
- Mariposa Mexicanas Photographs of subspecies "oaxacensis"
- Taxonomy Browser Upperside and underside photographs.
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