Subfamily for Tawny Coster

[Sky Blue]

In our checklist, we put Tawny Coster under Acraeinae subfamily, while in the BOT (Butterflies of Thailand) book, the subfamily is Heliconiinae, so which one is the correct one? :thinking:

[atronox]

If i'm not mistaken, the subf. acreinae comprises of spp. from our region n the rest mostly from africa while subf. heliconiinae has spp. only in central n south america. These two were distinct subf's for a long time bt they probably used to be lumped together. I think it's more appropriate to use acreinae as the butts r found in our region. They could also be separated by some differences in venation. Cn someone find out more abt this?

[EarlyStages]

Recent research and analyses place the genus Acraea in the subfamily Heliconiinae:

http://nymphalidae.utu.fi/Nymphalidae/Heliconiinae/Heliconiinae.htm
http://www.tolweb.org/Heliconiinae
http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/heliconiinae/index.html

If anyone is particularly interested in a PDF of a cited supporting publication, please send me a PM.

Keith

[Sky Blue]

Thank you so much Keith, I should update the checklist accordingly :)

[Commander]

SC, thanks for spotting it, and Keith for the updates. There are more, according to C&P4 update by the late JN Eliot. I missed that part. ;P

Besides Acraeinae being reduced to a tribe of Heliconiinae, there are a few updated as well. These are :


Nymphalinae - with tribes Nymphalini (Vanessa, Kaniska & Symbrenthia) and Kallimini (Junonia and Phinopalpa to Kallima)
Heliconiinae - with tribes Acraeini (Acraea), Heliconiini (Cethosia) Vagrantini (Cupha to Terinos) and Argynnini (only Argyreus)
Limenitidinae with tribes Limenitidini, Neptini, Parthenini and Adoliadini
Biblidinae with tribe Biblidini (Ariadne and Laringa)
Cyrestinae, with tribes Cyrestini and Pseudergolini
Apaturinae (Rohana to Hestinalis)What this means as far as the Singapore species is concerned, is that in sub-family Heliconiinae, there are more genera than just Acraea. From what I understand, the three Lacewings, Rustic, Royal Assyrian, Banded Yeoman and Leopard are now all classified under sub-family Heliconiinae instead of previously Nymphalinae.

From what I can see, the other species like Commander, the various Sailors are now under the sub-family Limenitidinae.

Let me study the details and update the Singapore checklist accordingly.

[atronox]

So many changes. I must be a little out dated:embrass: .

[Sky Blue]

wah, must digest a bit.