Ceylon rose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ceylon rose |
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Atrophaneura jophon |
The Ceylon rose (also called the Sri Lankan rose) is a beautiful butterfly found only in Sri Lanka. Its scientific name is Pachliopta jophon. This butterfly is part of the amazing swallowtail family, known for their unique tails on their wings. For a while, scientists thought it was just a type of another butterfly called the crimson rose.
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Where Does the Ceylon Rose Live?
The Ceylon rose butterfly is very special because it lives only in Sri Lanka. You can find it in the warm, wet rainforests located in the central hills of the country's southwestern part. This makes it an endemic species, meaning it's native to just one place.
What Does the Ceylon Rose Look Like?
Both male and female Ceylon rose butterflies are mostly black. They have bright white and crimson (deep red) markings that make them stand out.
Male Butterfly Appearance
The male Ceylon rose has a black body and wings.
- Forewings: These wings have three or four wide white stripes near the body. There are also more white stripes further out on the wing. These stripes don't reach the very edge of the wing.
- Hindwings: The hindwings have white areas near the body and short, wide white stripes. These white parts are only separated by the black veins of the wing. After the white parts, there's a curved line of crimson (red) spots. These red spots have tiny black scales mixed in.
- Underside: The underside of the wings looks similar to the top, but the white and red markings are clearer and sharper. Both the white stripes and the red spots usually appear seven times on each wing.
- Body: The top of the head, body, and the front part of the abdomen are black. The front of the head, the sides of the body, and the back half of the abdomen are crimson red. The red part of the abdomen might have one or two small black spots on the sides.
Female Butterfly Appearance
The female Ceylon rose butterfly looks a lot like the male. However, her forewings are wider. Also, her white and crimson markings are generally bigger and easier to see than on the male.
Why is the Ceylon Rose Endangered?
Sadly, the Ceylon rose butterfly is in serious trouble. It is considered critically endangered. This means there are very few of these butterflies left in the wild. Their numbers are shrinking quickly because their natural home, the rainforest, is disappearing. When their habitat is lost, they have nowhere to live or find food.
See also
- Papilionidae
- List of butterflies of India
- List of butterflies of India (Papilionidae)
