Bebearia

Bebearia is a genus of brush-footed butterflies.[2] The species are confined to the Afrotropical realm, mainly in the Guinean Forests of West Africa and the Congolian forests.

Bebearia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nymphalidae
Subfamily:
Limenitidinae
Tribe:
Adoliadini
Genus:
Bebearia

Species

Numerous, see text

The genus Bebearia closely resembles the allied genus Euphaedra in appearance. The females, especially, are very similar on their uppersides. The undersides of Bebearia however are invariably cryptically patterned and often resemble dead leaves. In Euphaedra the underside is usually yellow with black spots and pink basal patches. Euphaedra have orange palpi while those of Bebearia are brown. In Euphaedra the forewing apex is always rounded and not falcate (sickle shaped).[3][4] The member species are diverse.

Taxonomy

The type species of the genus is Euryphene iturina Karsch.

Species groups

Defining species groups is a convenient way of subdividing well-defined genera with a large number of recognized species. Bebearia species are so arranged in assemblages called "species groups" but (not superspecies, but an informal phenetic arrangement). These may or may not be clades. As molecular phylogenetic studies continue, lineages distinct enough to warrant some formal degree of recognition become evident and new groupings are suggested, but consistent ranking remains a problem.

Species

References
  1. "Bebearia Hemming, 1960" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Afrotropical Butterflies: Nymphalidae - Tribe Adoliadini
  3. Bernard d'Abrera, 2004 Butterflies of the Afrotropical Region, Part 2: Nymphalidae, Libytheidae SBN 978-0-947352-45-5
  4. Jacques Hecq, 2000, Schmetterlinge der Erde, Butterflies of the world Part IX (9), Nymphalidae IV -Bebearia. Edited by Erich Bauer and Thomas Frankenbach Keltern : Goecke & Evers ; Canterbury : Hillside Books.ISBN 9783931374501 and Supplement 3 - Detailed text in French.
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