Andaman swordtail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andaman swordtail |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Graphium (butterfly)
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| Species: |
epaminondas
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The Andaman swordtail (Graphium epaminondas) is a beautiful butterfly. It belongs to the swallowtail family. You can find this butterfly in India, especially on the Andaman Islands. Scientists once thought it was a type of fivebar swordtail. But now they know it is its own unique species.
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Where Does the Andaman Swordtail Live?
This butterfly lives only in the Andaman Islands of India. This means it is "endemic" to these islands. We don't know exactly how many places it lives in there. But people have seen many of them in Mount Harriet National Park. They also live in other spots across the Andamans.
What Does the Andaman Swordtail Look Like?
The Andaman swordtail looks a lot like the fivebar swordtail. However, it has wider black markings on its upper wings. These black stripes cross the front wings. They also reach the bottom edge of the wing.
On its back wings, you can see black markings from below. These are also partly black on the top. The dark grey part at the end of the wing is wider. It can also turn a dark black color near the front. This makes some of the smaller black markings harder to see.
The underside of the butterfly also has similar markings. But they are wider. On the front wing, a wide band goes from the top edge to the first vein. On the back wing, the black bands across the cell are wider and closer together.
This butterfly has a wingspan of about 94 to 100 millimeters. That's roughly the length of a credit card.
Is the Andaman Swordtail in Danger?
We do not know enough about this butterfly's numbers. More research is needed to understand if it is safe or if it needs protection.
What Does Its Name Mean?
The name epaminondas comes from an old tradition. It honors a famous general from ancient Greece. His name was Epaminondas. He was a leader from the city of Thebes.
See Also
- Papilionidae
- List of butterflies of India
- List of butterflies of India (Papilionidae)
