Protogoniomorpha Explained

Protogoniomorpha is a genus of nymphalid butterflies found in the Afrotropical realm, commonly known as mother-of-pearls.

Taxonomy

Protogoniomorpha was viewed as part of Salamis by Ackery et al. (1995). Based on phylogenetic research, the group was reinstated as distinct genus, with some members possibly needing further reassignment.^[1]

Species

• Protogoniomorpha anacardii (Linnaeus, 1758) — clouded mother-of-pearl
• Protogoniomorpha cytora (Doubleday, 1847) — western blue beauty
• Protogoniomorpha duprei Vinson, 1863 — Madagascan mother-of-pearl (sometimes listed as a subspecies of P. anacardii)
• Protogoniomorpha parhassus (Druce, 1782) — common mother-of-pearl or forest mother-of-pearl
• Protogoniomorpha temora Felder, 1867 — blue mother-of-pearl

References

• Book: Woodhall, Steve . Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa . 2005 . Cape Town, South Africa . Struik . 130 . 978-1-86872-724-7 .
• Seitz, A. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 50

Notes and References

1. Wahlberg . Niklas . Brower . Andrew V. Z. . Nylin . Sören . October 2005 . Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of tribes and genera in the subfamily Nymphalinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society . 86 . 2 . 227ff . 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2005.00531.x .