Causes of Old world tropical diversity patterns: the Rajah, Emperor, Forest Queen and Nawab nymphalid butterflies (Charaxes)
Final Report Abstract
The fairly large ornamental Nawab butterflies in the genus or subgenus Polyura are widespread throughout the Indoaustralian-Australasian archipelago, some species occur in India and even higher altitudes of Tibet. These are very obvious animals and popular among collectors, with only 26 accepted species. We used DNA sequencing data, morphological and biogeographic evindence to better understand the evolution of these butterflies. Based on our data, we can reveal seven additonal species. We suggest that large scale environmental change over geological time and complex colonization patterns from island to island from the west towards the east to Pacific Islands, and then back-colonization of the heart of Indonesia via long distance dispersal. Our work also shows that biogeographic border lines such as Wallace’s Line, delimitating the Oriental from the Australian region, had little significance for Nawab butterflies. This is in agreement with studies on other groups of insects, flying and flightless ones, that show repeated crossing of such lines even in different directions. We raised the number of accepted Polyura species by seven in the first published contribution already, including two new species. This is a surprising increase relative to the 26 previously accepted species – especially in a group of ornamental and frequently collected butterflies.
Publications
- Comparative molecular species delimitation in the charismatic Nawab butterflies (Nymphalidae, Charaxinae, Polyura). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 91: 194–209
Toussaint EFA, Morinière J, Müller CJ, Kunte K, Turlin B, Hausmann A, Balke M
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.05.015)
