Eumaeini Explained

The Eumaeini are a tribe of gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae). They are typically placed in the subfamily Theclinae, but sometimes considered a separate subfamily Eumaeinae. Over 1,000 species are found in the Neotropical realm

Systematics

As not all Theclinae have been assigned to tribes, the genus list is preliminary. However, much progress has been made in sorting out the profusion of synonymous taxa, and at least some degree of stability has been achieved in the early years of the 21st century. While there is no good phylogenetic hypothesis yet for the subfamily, groups of at least apparently related genera have been delimited. They are sometimes called "sections", but do not correspond to the taxonomic rank of section (the section in which the gossamer-winged butterflies are placed is the Cossina); if validated as clades and assigned taxonomic rank, they would qualify as subtribes.[1]

There is still much work to be done, including the splitting of such notorious "wastebin taxa" as Callophrys, and the establishment of a robust phylogenetic and evolutionary scenario. Pending this, the groups are listed here in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, while genera are simply sorted alphabetically.Eumaeus group

Brangas group

Atlides group

Micandra group (formerly in Atlides group)

Thereus group

Satyrium group

Callophrys group

Thestius group

Allosmaitia group

Lamprospilus group (groundstreaks and allies)

Strymon group (scrub hairstreaks)

Tmolus group

Panthiades group

Hypostrymon group

Erora group

Unplaced (TOL)

References

Notes and References

  1. See Brower (2008) and the references in Savela (2008)
  2. Possibly a nomen nudum