Rajah (Charaxes spp) from Northern Part of Thailand

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

These are taken from northern part of Thailand. Could you please help to ID them. Not too sure if they are of the common Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernardus), Scarce Tawny Rajah (Charaxes aristogiton) or perhaps, Malay Rajah (Charaxes distanti). Unfortunately, I did not manage to shoot the upper side of these butterflies at all.

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Thanks a lot.

Best regards,
David Chan

[Psyche]

1. Charaxes aristogiton.

2. Charaxes bernardus.


1. C. distanti [Un light tawny brown ;FW forward margin (costa ) basally white. Not found in the North.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMIUqn8dGbU/UyevLszpcOI/AAAAAAAANeE/kPeWG8wrMHQ/s1600/DSC_0512.JPG

2. C. kahruba Un. variegated & strongly contrasted deep brown & yellow.
http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Charaxes%20kahruba%209498-001a.jpg


3. C. aristogiton.Un. tawny brown & not strongly contrasted; HW outer margin of postdiscal band/spots a regular fairly straight black line.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/CharaxesAristogiton/CharaxesAristogiton_af923_AjayGaikwad.jpg
http://www.flutters.org/home/photogallery/plog-content/images/butterfliesbrnbspnbspnbspnymphalidae-the-brush-footed-br/subfamily-charaxinae-brnbspnbspnbsp-genus-charaxes--the-rajahs-/scarce_tawny_rajah_1_ayan_chakraborty_3.jpg

4. C. marmax. HW outer margin of postdiscal band irregular, less black, Underside ground colour mostly yellow brown, markings not strongly contrasted.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/1a_7/3054753bfddc4d1972.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2015/85_4913-411-5512c5fa5d9c6-1.jpg
http://b03.deliver.odai.yale.edu/f5/f7/f5f76141-54c0-4362-9541-3c346ef4669d/814617-large.jpg

5. C. bernardus. :Variable. Underside brown with a grey overtone ; often with a pale central macular(spotty) band ;HW outer margin of postdiscal band strongly irregular.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/94_12852-482-57931bcfd5f15-1.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/798_23713-930-5a4f2d59217b2-1.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/94_12853-131-57931c419305c-1.jpg
http://wildeyesbutterflying.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tawny-Rajah.jpg

6. C. harmodius ; mostly in the south ; HW with two strong white spots in the apical area.
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/charaxes-harmodius-10592623.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

Thanks a lot for pointers. Some many subspecies in Thailand.

Best regards,
David Chan

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

These 2 butterflies were shot at northern part of Thailand in Mar 18. Could the 1st be a C. aristogiton? The straight black line on the HW however faded away after v6. As for the 2nd butterfly, is it a C. kahruba or C. bernardus? It's contrasted deep brown and yellow is stronger than C. bernardus but not throughout both the FW and HW like that of a C. kahruba. Appreciate your advise.

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Thanks & best regards,
David Chan

[Psyche]

Post 4.
1 C. aristogiton..HW line is black & straight. Fade do not matter.

2. C. bernardus hierax.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/543/Charaxes-bernardus

C. kahruba has the ground colur light ochreous yellow.
http://wildeyesbutterflying.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Charaxes-kahruba-Variegated-Rajah.jpg
http://www.flutters.org/home/photogallery/plog-content/images/butterfliesbrnbspnbspnbspnymphalidae-the-brush-footed-br/subfamily-charaxinae-brnbspnbspnbsp-genus-charaxes--the-rajahs-/variegated-rajah_1__monsoonjyotigogoi.jpg

TL Seow:Cheers.

[David Chan]

Hi Dr Seow,

Thanks for your clarification.

Best regards,
David Chan

[Angiud]

This is the real Charaxes kahruba, from North Thailand:


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4390/36709535284_bfd9a07c43_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XVTXU9)
The Variegated Rajah - ผีเสื้อม้าแดงลายเลอะ

[atronox]

Beautiful colours!

[David Chan]

Thanks, Antonio. Such brilliant golden glow.

Cheers!
Antonio