Papilio aegeus: its subspecies and forms
Apr 18, 2015 18:38:11 GMT
wollastoni, nomad, and 7 more like this
Post by deliasfanatic on Apr 18, 2015 18:38:11 GMT
I'm especially interested in species such as Papilio aegeus, dardanus, and memnon, which all occur in an amazing range of forms and subspecies. Papilio aegeus is a striking, large species found from the New Guinea area, including many surrounding islands and NE Australia. Its males are fairly consistent, but females often occur in 3 basic forms: dark, medium (often termed the "normal" form), and light, which mimic local species of Pachliopta and Taenaris. There is much variation within these forms, both within a population and from island to island. I've made it a project to explore this variation in detail, and I'd like to share it with you here.
This first drawer contains subspecies from the western part of aegeus' range. The first two columns comprise aegeus othello from Biak, with its three female forms. It's a small and distinct subspecies. Column three contains aegeus bandaicola (the old labels need to be replaced, as adrastus is an invalid name) from the Banda Islands. Interestingly, its males begin to approximate the appearance of Papilio inopinatus, found southwest of P. aegeus' range, in Tanimbar and nearby islands. There is also a dark female form, which I lack. Column 4 contains two subspecies, aegeus goramensis (Goram) and a. kissuanus (Kesui). I came across the latter two females around 30 years ago, and have never seen another of this subspecies, even a male. The last two subspecies are very scarce in collections, making their true range of variation unknown.
P aegeus drawer 0616 by D B, on Flickr
Drawer two includes aegeus keianus from the Kei Islands; it has no dark female form. The remainder of the drawer contains males of a. ormenus, common and widespread throughout New Guinea and many neighbouring islands; males here are from a variety of locations, but are all included in ormenus since they have no consistent differences from one location to another.
P aegeus drawer 0617 by D B, on Flickr
Drawer three includes males of ormenus f. pandion, including transitional forms; they're found among the more usual males that have a well-marked forewing band. The first specimen in column two is a scarce yellow aberration, f. pandoxus. The remainder of this drawer contains mostly dark female forms; they are grouped under various form names, but transitions exist between them. Ormenus is an interesting subspecies in that many female forms tend to vary from one location to another, with slightly different forms found on one island and not on others, for example. It's possible that some could be regarded as subspecies with further study, but so far I've not seen any consistent differences in their males. The last 3 females in column four are from Aru.
P aegeus drawer 0618 by D B, on Flickr
Drawer four has variations of the common and widespread "normal" ormenus form, polydorina. It's very variable in size and shape of the hindwing patch, red spotting, and white forewing markings.
P aegeus drawer 0619 by D B, on Flickr
Drawer five contains f. amanga and f. onesimus; these can actually be considered one form, as they blend from one to another with no sharp divisions. The first column could be considered as "ordinary amanga", since most specimens look like these; the transitions are rather uncommon. Typical f. onesimus is usually quite white, with a few being very light indeed, as you see at the lower right. Again, these specimens are found throughout many parts of New Guinea and nearby islands.
P aegeus drawer 0620 by D B, on Flickr
Drawer six comprises two subspecies from the Bismarck Islands, northeast of New Guinea. They are very distinct in both sexes; the small female at top of column two is an undescribed form and doesn't actually belong with the male-like f. sopaea beneath it. Column three contains aegeus oritas from New Ireland, a large subspecies; only two female forms are known.
P aegeus Bismarcks drawer 1320 by D B, on Flickr
Drawer seven is an old photo of inferior quality, but I've included it here for completeness until I have time to rephotograph it. The first pair in column one is aegeus oberon, which may or may not be a distinct subspecies. It's found on a few remote Solomon Islands; males are indistinguishable from the Australian nominate subspecies; the dark female is known as a great rarity in Australia. It's been speculated that this "subspecies" was accidentally introduced from Australia. The remainder of columns 1-2 are Australian nominate aegeus; the first 3 specimens in col. 2 are the normal form, while the lower three are the light form "beatrix", known from a limited area in Queensland's Iron Range. Finally, the last two columns include the related species P. inopinatus from Tanimbar and nearby islands, with its magnificent female. Two subspecies are recognized, although there is very little difference between them, and a larger series may show that they're actually the same after all.
648S5312 by D B, on Flickr
This first drawer contains subspecies from the western part of aegeus' range. The first two columns comprise aegeus othello from Biak, with its three female forms. It's a small and distinct subspecies. Column three contains aegeus bandaicola (the old labels need to be replaced, as adrastus is an invalid name) from the Banda Islands. Interestingly, its males begin to approximate the appearance of Papilio inopinatus, found southwest of P. aegeus' range, in Tanimbar and nearby islands. There is also a dark female form, which I lack. Column 4 contains two subspecies, aegeus goramensis (Goram) and a. kissuanus (Kesui). I came across the latter two females around 30 years ago, and have never seen another of this subspecies, even a male. The last two subspecies are very scarce in collections, making their true range of variation unknown.
P aegeus drawer 0616 by D B, on FlickrDrawer two includes aegeus keianus from the Kei Islands; it has no dark female form. The remainder of the drawer contains males of a. ormenus, common and widespread throughout New Guinea and many neighbouring islands; males here are from a variety of locations, but are all included in ormenus since they have no consistent differences from one location to another.
P aegeus drawer 0617 by D B, on FlickrDrawer three includes males of ormenus f. pandion, including transitional forms; they're found among the more usual males that have a well-marked forewing band. The first specimen in column two is a scarce yellow aberration, f. pandoxus. The remainder of this drawer contains mostly dark female forms; they are grouped under various form names, but transitions exist between them. Ormenus is an interesting subspecies in that many female forms tend to vary from one location to another, with slightly different forms found on one island and not on others, for example. It's possible that some could be regarded as subspecies with further study, but so far I've not seen any consistent differences in their males. The last 3 females in column four are from Aru.
P aegeus drawer 0618 by D B, on FlickrDrawer four has variations of the common and widespread "normal" ormenus form, polydorina. It's very variable in size and shape of the hindwing patch, red spotting, and white forewing markings.
P aegeus drawer 0619 by D B, on FlickrDrawer five contains f. amanga and f. onesimus; these can actually be considered one form, as they blend from one to another with no sharp divisions. The first column could be considered as "ordinary amanga", since most specimens look like these; the transitions are rather uncommon. Typical f. onesimus is usually quite white, with a few being very light indeed, as you see at the lower right. Again, these specimens are found throughout many parts of New Guinea and nearby islands.
P aegeus drawer 0620 by D B, on FlickrDrawer six comprises two subspecies from the Bismarck Islands, northeast of New Guinea. They are very distinct in both sexes; the small female at top of column two is an undescribed form and doesn't actually belong with the male-like f. sopaea beneath it. Column three contains aegeus oritas from New Ireland, a large subspecies; only two female forms are known.
P aegeus Bismarcks drawer 1320 by D B, on FlickrDrawer seven is an old photo of inferior quality, but I've included it here for completeness until I have time to rephotograph it. The first pair in column one is aegeus oberon, which may or may not be a distinct subspecies. It's found on a few remote Solomon Islands; males are indistinguishable from the Australian nominate subspecies; the dark female is known as a great rarity in Australia. It's been speculated that this "subspecies" was accidentally introduced from Australia. The remainder of columns 1-2 are Australian nominate aegeus; the first 3 specimens in col. 2 are the normal form, while the lower three are the light form "beatrix", known from a limited area in Queensland's Iron Range. Finally, the last two columns include the related species P. inopinatus from Tanimbar and nearby islands, with its magnificent female. Two subspecies are recognized, although there is very little difference between them, and a larger series may show that they're actually the same after all.
648S5312 by D B, on Flickr
