Revisiting the Andean butterfly Eryphanis zolvizora group (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae): one or several species?

Abstract

Eryphanis zolvizora (Hewitson, 1877) is a rare Andean endemic butterfly, described from Bolivia, which has been historically classified either as a unique species, or as part of a group of three allopatric species from Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia. In this paper, the group is revised using more than 200 specimens housed in 34 European, and North and South American public and private collections. For the first time, the presence of the group in Western Ecuador and Venezuela is confirmed, and important data on Peruvian populations are provided. In some populations, individual variations of genitalia are observed. Nevertheless, male genitalia allow the distinction of four geographical groups. Considering also habitus characters, eight taxa are distinguished and considered to be subspecies, of which five are new: Eryphanis zolvizora inca ssp. nov., Eryphanis zolvizora chachapoya ssp. nov., Eryphanis zolvizora casagrande ssp. nov.., Eryphanis zolvizora reyi ssp. nov., and Eryphanis zolvizora isabelae ssp. nov. In the present state of knowledge, these taxa are allopatric, except for a possible geographic overlap in central Peru, where data are insufficient to prove sympatry. The “several subspecies vs. several species” dilemma is discussed, considering its impact for conservation action and policies.

Documenting diversity in the Amazonian butterfly genus Bia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

“…This implies that male genitalia and wing color (including androconial scales) vary independently across the geographical range of the genus as a whole. Blandin et al (2014) found that wing color patterns, hind wing shape, and male genitalia did not vary in concert across the range of Eryphanis zolvizora (Hewitson) sensu lato (Brassolini). Those authors regarded wing color as a unifying character for zolvizora, while variation in wing shape and male genitalia were used at the subspecific level (nominal zolvizora, opimus and greeneyi).…”