Nymphalidae Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Nymphalidae

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Suborder:	Ditrysia
Superfamily:	Papilionoidea
Family:	Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815

A Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides

An Idea species in the subfamily Danainae, showing the first pair of legs or "brushfoot" legs. They are hard to see.

The Nymphalidae is the largest family of butterflies, with about 6,000 species. They live on all continents except Antarctica. They are commonly known as nymphalids, brushfoots, or brush-footed butterflies.

Characteristics
Subfamilies
Some example species
Image gallery
Images for kids
See also

Characteristics

Brushfoots get their name from their front pair of legs. This pair of legs is reduced. They do not have claws at the end. Only the middle and last pair of legs are used for walking. This is why they are called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies.

Many species are brightly colored and include popular species such as the emperors, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. Most hold their colourful wings flat when they are at rest. However, the underwings are often dull; in some species they look just like dead leaves, or are much paler. So when they raise their wings in the normal butterfly position, this cryptic effect helps the butterfly disappear into its surroundings.

Subfamilies

Apaturinae – Hackberry butterflies and Emperors
Biblidinae – Tropical Brushfoots
Calinaginae
Charaxinae – Leafwings
Cyrestinae
Danainae – Milkweed butterflies
Heliconiinae – Heliconiians and Fritillaries
Ithomiinae (sometimes placed in the subfamily Danainae as a tribe (a tribe is a ranking between family and genus))
Libytheinae – Snout butterflies
Limenitidinae – Admirals and Sisters
Morphinae – Morphos (sometimes placed in the subfamily Satyrinae as a tribe)
Nymphalinae – Buckeyes, Eggflies, Checkerspots, Crescents, Anglewings, and Ladies
Satyrinae – Satyrs and Browns.