Borneo birdwing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Borneo birdwing |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Troides
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| Species: |
andromache
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The Troides andromache, also known as the Borneo birdwing or Kinabalu Birdwing, is a large and beautiful butterfly. It belongs to the Papilionidae family, which includes many of the world's largest butterflies. This special butterfly is an endemic species, meaning it is found only on the island of Borneo. In 2023, the Borneo birdwing was chosen as the official state butterfly for Sabah, a state in Malaysian Borneo.
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Discover the Borneo Birdwing
The Borneo birdwing is a very large butterfly. Its wings can spread out from 150 to 180 millimeters (about 6 to 7 inches) wide. This is especially true for the female butterflies. The body of the butterfly is black. It has yellow markings on the underside of its belly.
Male and Female Differences
The Borneo birdwing shows sexual dimorphism. This means that male and female butterflies look different from each other.
- Males: The top side of their front wings is black. The underside of their front wings is black with white marks. These white marks are found between the veins of the wings. The back wings are bright yellow with black veins. They also have a border of black triangles along the edges.
- Females: Their front wings are mostly white. They have black veins that are lined with grey. The back wings are yellow with black veins, similar to the males. However, females have a wide black border along the edge of their back wings. They also have a wide band of connected black spots closer to the center of the wing.
Where the Borneo Birdwing Lives
The Borneo birdwing lives in the rainforests of Borneo. It prefers to live high up in the forest canopy. This is the top layer of the forest where the trees are tallest. You can find these butterflies in the mountains of Borneo. They live at high elevations, from about 1,000 to 2,900 meters (about 3,300 to 9,500 feet) above sea level.
What Borneo Birdwings Eat
The young Borneo birdwing, which is a caterpillar, needs specific plants to eat. These plants are called "host plants." For the Borneo birdwing caterpillar, the host plants are types of Aristolochia vines. Specifically, they eat A. acuminata and A. foveolata.
The Name's Meaning
The name Andromache comes from Greek mythology. Andromache was a famous woman in ancient Greek stories. She was the wife of a hero named Hector. Her name means "man-battler" or "fighter of men."
Images for kids
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This drawing shows the Borneo birdwing, called Pompeoptera andromache, from an old book published between 1898 and 1906.
See also
- Sundaland
