Nevada grayling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nevada grayling |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Pseudochazara |
| Species: |
P. williamsi
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| Binomial name | |
| Pseudochazara williamsi Romei, 1927
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| Synonyms | |
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The Nevada grayling (scientific name: Pseudochazara williamsi) is a special type of butterfly. It belongs to the family Nymphalidae, which includes many well-known butterflies like monarchs and painted ladies. This beautiful butterfly lives only in southern Spain, making it an endemic species. This means you won't find it naturally anywhere else in the world!
When Does the Nevada Grayling Fly?
The Nevada grayling butterfly has a single flight period each year. This means it is univoltine. You can usually spot these butterflies flying around from the middle of June until early August. This is when they are most active.
What Do Nevada Grayling Caterpillars Eat?
Like all butterflies, the Nevada grayling starts its life as a tiny egg. The egg hatches into a larva, which is a caterpillar. These caterpillars are quite picky eaters! They mostly feed on different kinds of grasses. Eating enough grass helps them grow big and strong before they turn into a pupa and then a butterfly.
Different Forms of the Nevada Grayling
Scientists have studied the Nevada grayling very closely. They found that there are different groups of these butterflies living in various parts of southeastern Spain. These groups look a bit different from each other.
In the past, some people thought these different groups were separate subspecies. A subspecies is like a special variety within a species. However, many scientists now think these differences are more like "ecological forms." This means the butterflies have adapted to their specific local environments.
For example, the patterns on the underside of their hind wings can change a lot. This helps them blend in with the ground where they live. It's a clever way to hide from predators! These changes are often due to something called "phenotypic plasticity." This is when an animal can change its physical traits based on its environment.
Here are some of the areas where these different forms of the Nevada grayling are found:
| Ecological Form | Where it Lives |
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| Form 1 (called "williamsi") | Sierra Nevada mountains in Granada and Almería provinces; Sierra de Baza in Granada; Sierra de los Filabres in Almería. All in southern Spain. |
| Form 2 (called "aislada") | Sierra de María and Sierra de Orce in Almería province, southeastern Spain. |
| Form 3 (called "augustini") | Sierra de Gádor in Almería province, southern Spain. |
| Form 4 (called "reverchoni") | Sierra de Guillimona and Sierra Seca in Granada province; Revolcadores in Murcia province. All in southeastern Spain. |
Scientists continue to study these butterflies to understand more about their differences and how they adapt to their homes.
 | Tommie Smith |
 | Simone Manuel |
 | Shani Davis |
 | Simone Biles |
 | Alice Coachman |
