Papilio sakontala
Papilio sakontala is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus Papilio that is found in India.
Description
P. sakontala Hew.. Male: both wings narrower than in Papilio hipponous and Papilio polytes Forewing with narrow marginal spots and grey discal stripes, without the band of P. hipponous; hindwing with a discal band composed of separated patches more or less strongly dusted with black, in which the 4. and 5. spots are the longest; the reddish submarginal spots of the hindwing beneath are very small, some of them not developed. — A rare North Indian species, of which so far only a few specimens have been found; from Mussourie eastwards to the Naga Hills in Upper Assam.
Taxonomy
The taxonomic rank of Papilio sakontala is uncertain. It is a member of the fuscus species-group. The members of this clade arePapilio albinus Wallace, 1865Papilio diophantus Grose-Smith, 1883Papilio fuscus Goeze, 1779 Papilio hipponous C. & R. Felder, 1862Papilio jordani Fruhstorfer, 1906Papilio pitmani Elwes & de Nicéville, Papilio prexaspes C. & R. Felder, 1865 Papilio sakontala Hewitson, 1864