Description of a new genus and species for a common and widespread Amazonian satyrine butterfly (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini)

Abstract

We here propose a new monotypic butterfly genus Scriptor Nakahara & Espeland, n. gen. to accommodate a new species, S. sphenophorus Lamas & Nakahara, n. sp., described and named herein. Scriptor sphenophorus n. gen. and n. sp.is a relatively common and widespread butterfly species which is recovered as a member of the so-called “Splendeuptychia clade” in the nymphalid subtribe Euptychiina, based on our molecular phylogenetic analysis using a maximum likelihood approach. Nevertheless, its sister group is not confidently resolved in any analysis, supporting a relatively distant relationship to any described genus as well as our decision to establish a new monotypic genus. We further discuss the proposed taxonomy in the light of frequent criticism of the description of monotypic taxa, as well as emphasize the importance of incorporating multiple evidence when describing new genera, illustrated by reference to several recent generic descriptions in this subtribe.

Combining target enrichment and Sanger sequencing data to clarify the systematics of the diverse Neotropical butterfly subtribe Euptychiina (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

“…More data is needed to possibly resolve these relationships, but the very short branches in the backbonemight make this task difficult. Several recent papers have provided generic revisions and descriptions of new taxa from this clade (Zacca et al, 2014; Zacca, Casagrande, et al, 2017; Zacca, Casagrande, Mielke, Huertas, Barbosa, Freitas, et al, 2020 [ Paryphthimoides ], Zacca, Casagrande, Mielke, Huertas, Espeland, Freitas, et al, 2020 [ Vareuptychia ], Zacca, Casagrande, Mielke, Huertas, Barbosa, Freitas, & Willmott, 2020 [ Emeryus ]; Costa et al, 2016 [ Huberonympha , Stevenaria , Magneuptychia ]; Benmesbah et al, 2018, 2021 [ Malaveria , Modestia ]; Nakahara, Zacca, et al, 2018 [ Caeruleuptychia ], Nakahara, Lamas, et al, 2020 [ Scriptor ], Nakahara et al, 2023 [ Caeruleuptychia ]; Andrade‐Correa et al, 2019 [ Omacha ]; Viloria, 2022 [ Malaveria ]). Andrade‐Correa et al (2019) described Colombeia as a monotypic genus with Euptychia mycalesis as type species, but our molecular data show that species to be a member of a strongly supported clade containing two other species, which we here also transfer to Colombeia ( Colombeia nossis comb.n.…”

Description of a new genus and species of Euptychiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

“…In the last decade, several monotypic genera have been described (e.g., Andrade-C et al 2019;Benmesbah et al 2021;Freitas et al 2013Freitas et al , 2016Freitas et al , 2019Nakahara et al 2016Nakahara et al , 2020 in order to tackle some of the taxonomic problems pervading the subtribe Euptychiina, in an attempt to stabilise the taxonomy and make it better reflect the evolutionary history of the group. In the present case, we saw no alternative than describing a new genus to accommodate this new species, given that Xikrin ueharapradoi is apparently the sister lineage to a large clade composed of several well-defined genera.…”