Morpho
rhetenor rhetenor Westwood, 1851 |
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Synonyms: |
= M. rhetenor eusebes
= M. rhetenor tapajoz
= M. rhetenor fournierae
= M. rhetenor subtusmurina |
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Described
Forms: |
Male Forms:
- anceps Le Moult & Real, 1962 (Pale Verso)
- integribasalis Le Moult & Real, 1962 (no pale spots
in the Verso forewing cell)
- laothoe Tarel, 1928
- monicae, Tarel, 1932 (Blush Green)
- persimilis Le Moult. & Real, 1962
- pseudoaugustinae Le Moult, 1931
- pseudodickseei Le Moult, 1931
- pseudolesoudieri Le Moult, 1931
- pseudorosenbergi Le Moult, 1931
- rosenbergi Le Moult, 1931
- sauteri Le Moult & Real, 1962 (Very Dark Verso)
- simillima Le Moult & Real, 1962
- subcacica Le Moult, 1927
- subrosenbergi Le Moult, 1931
Female Forms:
- coeruleosquama Le Moult,
1931
- vidua Le Moult & Real, 1962
- elata Le Moult & Real, 1962
- paramacas Le Moult, 1931 |
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Geographic Distribution:
Amazon Basin and major tributaries = “Amazonia"
The nominate populations and forms of this species cover much of
South America including, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname,
Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and possibly Uruguay,
Paraguay, and northern Argentina. All populations seem to occur
east of the Andes and little if any information suggests that this
species reaches the Pacific. There are other subspecies, the
distributions of which are peripheral to the geographic range of the
nominate race (incl. the Orinoco delta, sub-Andean forests and river
basins) |
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Flight Times: Assumed to be all months of the year (peak months - variable) |
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Status: Most populations seem to be secure.
Most populations are offered at least limited protection in the countries of
origin. |
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Morpho
rhetenor agustinae Le Cerf, 1925 |
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Synonyms: |
=
M. diana Dixey |
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Described
Forms: |
form albiconjuncta Le Moult &
Real, 1962
form argoti Le Moult, 1926
form dickseei Le Moult, 1926
form lesourdieri Le Moult, 1926
form rothschildi Le Moult, 1927
form sagittigera Le Moult & Real, 1962
form semicypris Le Moult, 1926
form semirhetenor Le Moult, 1926
form talboti Le Moult, 1931
form unicolor Le Moult, 1931 |
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Range:
Most information available, based on collected material, suggests this form to be restricted to the Orinoco Delta of Venezuela with most specimens bearing the locality data of “Tucupita”. |
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Flight Times:
UNKNOWN |
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Status:
Much of the original range has been developed; in the last several decades, pollution and urbanization have devastated the delta region. This race has always been very restricted geographically, therefore, the populations are considered
extremely vulnerable. Some believe it to be extinct and specimens
have not been collected in many years. The undeveloped surrounding areas
of the delta may hold some evidence of its continued existence. |
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Morpho rhetenor
adcacica nov. subsp. (Patrick Blandin) |
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Range:
Bolivia (Chapare & Ichilo Provinces) |
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Status:
UNKNOWN |
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Morpho
rhetenor cacica Staudinger, 1875 |
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Synonyms: |
= Morpho rhetenor columbianus Kruger, 1924
= Morpho rhetenor equatenor Le Moult & Real, 1962 |
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Described
Forms: |
- paradisiaca Le Moult &
Real, 1962
- sybilla Weber, 1951
- demitellata Le Moult & Real, 1962 (described as a
form of Ssp. helena) |
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Range:
This race occurs along the eastern slopes of the Andes (sub-Andean forests and river basins in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia). |
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Flight Times:
Assumed to be all months of the year (peak months - variable) |
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Status:
Most populations seem to be secure. Most populations are offered
at least limited protection in the countries of origin! |
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Morpho
rhetenor helena Staudinger, 1890 |
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Synonyms: |
= Morpho rhetenor chrysides Fruhstorfer, 1912 |
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Described
Forms: |
Male Forms:
- defecta Le Moult & Real, 1962
- demissa Stichel, 1936
- extincta Michael,?
- greardi Le Moult & Real, 1962
- inka Niepelt, 1931 (ind. f.)
- reducta Michael, ?
Female Forms:
- boveyi Le Moult & Real, 1962
- harrisia Blandin, 1968 |
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Range:
This race is
restricted to the Huallaga River Basin of Peru. Populations of
helena are flanked to the north and south by populations
of cacica and to the east by populations of the
nominate rhetenor. It has been suggested that
helena may be a distinct species, however, more information
is needed. This population does seem to blend with surrounding
subspecies, as helena traits are often seen in
adjacent cacica and rhetenor populations
(increased white in the discal cells). |
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Flight Times:
Assumed to be all months of the year (Peak Times Sept-February) |
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Status:
Most populations seem to be secure. Most populations are offered limited
protection in Peru (export is legal but restricted). |