Aponotoreas orphnaea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aponotoreas orphnaea |
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Aponotoreas orphnaea is a type of moth that belongs to the family Geometridae. This moth is found only in New Zealand, which means it is endemic to that country.
How Scientists Named This Moth
Scientists give names to all living things. This helps them organize and study nature.
A scientist named Edward Meyrick first described this moth in 1883. He first called it Pasithea orphnaea. Meyrick found the first example of this moth, called a type specimen, in January 1883. He found it high up on Ben Lomond mountain, about 1700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level.
Later, Meyrick realized the name Pasithea was already being used for another group of animals. So, he changed the moth's group name to Notoreas. This meant the moth became known as Notoreas orphnaea.
In 1986, another scientist named R. C. Craw created a new group, or genus, called Aponotoreas. He then placed this moth into that new group. This is why its scientific name is now Aponotoreas orphnaea.
Where This Moth Lives
Aponotoreas orphnaea lives in the high mountain areas of Central Otago in New Zealand. It likes to live in wetland habitats, which are areas with lots of water.
This moth has also been found living in alpine grasslands. These are grassy areas high up in the mountains. It is quite common in the lands around Mount Aspiring Station.
