| Nymphalidae |
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| Scientific classification |
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| Author: |
Swainson, 1827 |
| Type species: |
Nymphalis polychloros
(Large Tortoiseshell) |
| Diversity: |
633 genera
5,698 species |
| Subfamilies |
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Apaturinae
Biblidinae
Calinaginae
Charaxinae
Cyrestinae
Danainae
Heliconiinae
Libytheinae
Limenitidinae
Morphinae
Nymphalinae
Satyrinae
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The Nymphalidae are a family of about 5,000
species of butterflies.
These are typically fairly large butterfies, such as the admirals, tortoiseshells and fritillaries, which have very colourful
upperparts. However, the underwings are dull and often look like dead leaves, which helps to conceal stationary or hibernating
insects.
The front two legs are small, so these butterflies are effectively four-legged. The caterpillars are hairy or spiky, and the
crysalids have shiny spots.
Several species are attracted to Buddleia, the butterfly plant.
Species include
- Morpho
- Painted Lady
- Red Admiral
- Camberwell
Beauty
- Small Tortoiseshell
- Peacock
- Silver-washed Fritillary
- Speckled Wood
Small Tortoiseshell
The classification shown here follows most modern taxonomists in relegating the following well known butterfly families to the
status of subfamilies of the Nymphalidae:
- the Satyridae or Browns
- the Danaidae or Monarchs
- the Heliconiidae, colourful tropical butteflies noted for polymorphic Batesian mimicry
| Arthropoda - Insecta - Families of Lepidoptera |
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Acanthopteroctetidae - Acrolepiidae - Acrolophidae - Adelidae - Agathiphagidae - Agonoxenidae - Aididae - Alucitidae - Anomoeotidae - Anomosetidae - Anthelidae - Arctiidae - Arrhenophanidae - Axiidae - Batrachedridae - Bedelliidae - Blastobasidae - Bombycidae - Brachodidae - Brahmaeidae - Bucculatricidae - Callidulidae - Carposinidae - Carthaeidae - Castniidae - Cecidosidae - Choreutidae - Coleophoridae - Copromorphidae - Cosmopterigidae - Cossidae - Crambidae - Crinopterygidae - Cyclotornidae - Dalceridae - Doidae -
Douglasiidae - Drepanidae - Dudgeoneidae - Elachistidae - Endromidae - Epermeniidae - Epicopeiidae - Epipyropidae - Eriocottidae - Eriocraniidae - Ethmiidae - Eupterotidae - Galacticidae - Gelechiidae - Geometridae -
Glyphipterigidae -
Gracillariidae - Hedylidae - Heliodinidae - Heliozelidae - Hepialidae - Hesperiidae - Heterobathmiidae - Heterogynidae - Himantopteridae - Holcopogonidae - Hyblaeidae - Immidae - Incurvariidae - Lacturidae - Lasiocampidae - Lecithoceridae - Lemoniidae - Limacodidae - Lophocoronidae - Lycaenidae - Lymantriidae - Lyonetiidae - Lypusidae - Megalopygidae - Metachandidae - Micropterigidae - Mimallonidae - Mirinidae - Mnesarchaeidae - Momphidae - Neopseustidae - Neotheoridae - Nepticulidae - Noctuidae - Nolidae -
Notodontidae -
Nymphalidae - Oecophoridae - Oenosandridae - Opostegidae - Palaeosetidae - Palaephatidae - Pantheidae - Papilionidae - Pieridae - Plutellidae - Prodoxidae - Prototheoridae - Psychidae - Pterolonchidae - Pterophoridae - Pyralidae -
Riodinidae - Roeslerstammiidae - Saturniidae - Schreckensteiniidae -
Scythrididae - Sematuridae - Sesiidae - Simaethistidae - Somabrachyidae - Sphingidae - Symmocidae - Thyrididae - Tineidae - Tineodidae - Tischeriidae - Tortricidae - Uraniidae - Urodidae - Whalleyanidae - Yponomeutidae - Ypsolophidae - Zygaenidae
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