A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Neotropical Blepolenis butterflies: wing pattern elements, phylogeny, and Pleistocene diversification (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)




AuthorsPenz CM, Mohammadi N, Wahlberg N

PublisherMAGNOLIA PRESS

Publication year2011

JournalZootaxa

Journal name in sourceZOOTAXA

Journal acronymZOOTAXA

Number in series2897

Issue2897

First page 1

Last page17

Number of pages17

ISSN1175-5326


Abstract
This study re-describes and provides a phylogeny for the Brassolini genus Blepolenis, which includes three species from the Brazilian Atlantic forest. A diagnosis and illustrations of habitus and genitalia are given for each species. We compare variation in wing color pattern among the genera Blepolenis, Opsiphanes, Orobrassolis and Mielkella, and discuss the repeated loss of male wing androconial organs within Blepolenis. DNA sequence (nuclear and mitochondrial genes) provided the strongest signal for phylogeny reconstruction, given that Blepolenis species are morphologically homogeneous. Estimated time of divergence between Blepolenis and Opsiphanes dates from the Mid Miocene (ca. 15 million years ago), and was followed by an apparent period of stasis. Extant Blepolenis species seem to have diverged in the Pleistocene (ca. 2.5 mya).



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 18:38