Revision of the Bicyclus sciathis species group (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with descriptions of four new species and corrected distributional records

Brattström, O. , Aduse-Poku, K., Collins, S. C., Di Micco De Stanto, T. and Brakefield, P. M. (2016) Revision of the Bicyclus sciathis species group (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with descriptions of four new species and corrected distributional records. Systematic Entomology, 41(1), pp. 207-228. (doi: 10.1111/syen.12150) (PMID:27076698) (PMCID:PMC4810357)

Abstract

In this paper we present a thorough revision of the sciathis species group of the butterfly genus Bicyclus (Kirby). Type materials are discussed and in several cases lectotypes are assigned to specimens from original type series. Four new, and morphologically distinct, species are described (B. elishiae Brattström sp.n., B. heathi Brattström sp.n., B. sigiussidorum Brattström sp.n. and B. subtilisurae Brattström sp.n.), along with a comprehensive molecular phylogeny that includes exemplar taxa of all currently recognized species. We also investigate the types of all previously synonymized taxa and in the process invalidate the name B. ewondo Libert. This was done after finding the previously missing holotype of B. makomensis (Strand), which clearly belongs to the same species and thereby gives the older name priority. The phylogeny showed that some distinctly different species were surprisingly closely related, suggesting a high rate of morphological evolution in parts of the sciathis group. The distributional records for the group are updated after investigating over 1700 specimens kept in a range of museum collections. Many species previously thought to be broadly sympatric were found to have much more restricted ranges, with the previous overestimations probably based on misidentified specimens. The higher level of allopatry now established will make identification of many morphologically similar species easier. The fact that species often have smaller ranges than previously known, meaning that the level of endemism for African butterflies is likely to be higher than current estimates, has important implications for conservation management. An identification key for males of all 13 currently recognized species in the species group is included.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Brattstrom, Dr Oskar
• Authors: Brattström, O., Aduse-Poku, K., Collins, S. C., Di Micco De Stanto, T., and Brakefield, P. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Systematic Entomology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0307-6970
• ISSN (Online): 1365-3113
• Published Online: 09 November 2015
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Systematic Entomology 41(1): 207-228
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License