Entomologists from the Vietnam National Museum of Nature and the Research Institute of Evolution Biology of Japan have discovered and described four new butterfly subspecies for science from Phu Quoc Island, southern Vietnam.
Four new butterfly subspecies belong to the Papilionoidae and Nymphalidae families. Specimens were collected from the Phu Quoc island, Kien Giang province in the years during 2006 to 2017. The new subspecies has the scientific name Graphium antiphates matsui T. Saito & Vu, 2023; Tanaecia julli duc T. Saito & Vu, 2023; Cynitia lepidea phucuoca T. Saito & Vu, 2023.; and Bassarona teuta anh T. Saito & Vu, 2023.
The total number of butterfly species recorded in Phu Quoc so far is 261 species (2021) belonging to 6 butterfly families, namely Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae. With 261 butterfly species, Phu Quoc is quite rich in butterfly species.
The newly described butterfly subspecies from Phu Quoc has morphological characteristics that are different from other butterfly subspecies in Vietnam and the region. The biggest difference is that the patterns of this new butterfly subspecies are darker.
The article describing the new butterfly subspecies is published in ZOOTAXA Magazine, No. 5291 (1), pages 161-170.
Tamamitsu S. & Vu Van Lien.2023. Four new subspecies of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) from Phu Quoc Island, southern Vietnam. Zootaza 5293(1), 161-170.
Photos of new subspecies of butterflies to science:
- Subspecies Graphium antiphates matsui T. Saito & Vu, 2023
- Subspecies Tanaecia julli duc T. Saito & Vu, 2023
- Subspecies Cynitia lepidea phucuoca T. Saito & Vu, 2023
- Subspecies Bassarona teuta anh T. Saito & Vu, 2023
News: Vu Van Lien, The Vietnam National Museum of Nature, VAST