Papilio garamas


Papilio garamas, commonly known as the mexico phoenix or magnificent swallowtail, is a species of Neotropical swallowtail butterfly found in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica.

Description

A large butterfly with a wingspan of 80 to 110 millimetres. The females are dimorphic, either resembling the male or dark forms lacking the cream median and postdiscal bands, contrasting with deep black ground colour.

Subspecies

[Image:Papilio garamas abderus (1 - dorsal view).jpg|thumb|left|200px|Papilio garamas abderus]
  • Papilio garamas garamas Geyer, 1829
  • Papilio garamas tapatio De la Maza, 2023
  • Papilio garamas abderus Hopffer, 1856 generally seen as conspecific with P. garamas but sometimes treated as a distinct species.
  • Papilio garamas electryon Bates, 1864 may be placed in abderus
  • Papilio garamas syedra Godman & Salvin, 1878 may be placed in abderus
  • Papilio garamas baroni Rothschild & Jordan, 1906 may be placed in ''abderus''

Taxonomy

Papilio garamas is a member of the homerus species group. The members of this clade are:
Papilio garamas is in the subgenus Pterourus Scopoli, 1777 which also includes the species groups: troilus species group, glaucus species group, the zagreus species group and the scamander species group.

Status

Not uncommon and not regarded as threatened. If the garamas subspecies other than garamas garamas are subspecies of abderus then garamas is a Mexican endemic, but a taxonomic clarification is required.

Etymology

Garamas was the son of Acacallis in Greek mythology.