Ornithoptera aesacus
| Obi Island Birdwing | |
|---|---|
| File:Ornithoptera aesacus m.jpg | |
| Male, mounted specimen | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Genus: | Ornithoptera |
| Species: | O. aesacus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ornithoptera aesacus Ney, 1903
| |
Ornithoptera aesacus, the Obi Island birdwing, is an extremely rare species of birdwing butterfly, endemic to the Island of Obira (formerly Obi), Indonesia.[3] While being a very rare species, they are commercially bred and traded.
The specific epithet of Ornithoptera aesacus, is named after Æsacus, the eldest son of Priam.
History
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The original description is: aesacus Ney, F. (Felix) 1903 as Troides priamus Form aesacus. The full reference is Ney, F. 1903 Eine neue Troides-Form von Obi. Insekten-Börse 20 (5): 36., 1903.
The depository of the four syntypes collected by J. Waterstradt in May 1902 is unknown. They were once held by Hermann Rolle, whose collection, in part, was sold to Eugène Le Moult.
Description
[edit | edit source]Ornithoptera aesacus is a member of the Ornithoptera priamus species group. The two species are very similar but the male O. aesacus has a brilliant turquoise-blue sheen.
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]The classification of Ornithoptera aesacus as a species does not have full consensus, and is sometimes regarded as a subspecies of Ornithoptera priamus by some, such as Parsons (1996).
Synonymy
[edit | edit source]- O. obiana (Waterstradt in litt.) Rebel, 1906
- O. obiensis Rippon, 1906
- O. obiana (as O. arruana obiana) Rippon, 1906-1912
Distribution
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The Obi Island birdwing is endemic to the Island of Obira in Indonesia.[3] It inhabits tropical rainforest. Due to extensive logging on the Island the conservation of the species is a concern, and has been classified as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN[1] Twenty years ago it was the rarest birdwing species in the world. It remains threatened, but is commercially bred.
References
[edit | edit source]Other sources
[edit | edit source]- D'Abrera, B. (1975). Birdwing Butterflies of the World. Country Life Books, London.
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- Haugum, J. & Low, A.M. (1978-1985). A Monograph of the Birdwing Butterflies. 2 volumes. Scandinavian Press, Klampenborg; 663 pp.
- Parsons, M.J. (1996). A phylogenetic reappraisal of the birdwing genus Ornithoptera (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae: Troidini) and a new theory of its evolution in relation to Gondwanan vicariance biogeography. Journal of Natural History 30(11):1707-1736.
External links
[edit | edit source]- File:Wikispecies-logo.svg Data related to Ornithoptera aesacus at Wikispecies
- Globis.insects-online: Ornithoptera aesacus Archived 2019-03-27 at the Wayback Machine — from Zoologische Staatssammlung München.
- Barcode of Life: Ornithoptera aesacus — from Consortium for the Barcode of Life.
- Att.net.bret69: Images of Swallowtails
- Nagypal.net: Images
- Worldwildlife.org: Southeastern Asia Ecoregion — "Islands of Halmahera, Moratai"
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