Redonda (butterfly) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redonda (butterfly) |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Subfamily: | Satyrinae |
| Tribe: | Satyrini |
| Subtribe: | Pronophilina |
| Genus: | Redonda Adams & Bernard, 1981 |
| Species | |
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Redonda is a special group, or genus, of butterflies. These butterflies belong to the Satyrinae subfamily and the Nymphalidae family. Scientists Michael Jan Adams and George Igor Bernard first named this group in 1981.
These unique butterflies live only in the high mountain grasslands called páramos in the Cordillera de Merida páramo in Mérida, Venezuela. There are 10 known kinds, or species, of Redonda butterflies. Each kind often lives in its own separate mountain range.
Many Redonda butterflies show sexual dimorphism. This means the males and females look different, especially in their wing size. In some cases, the females have smaller, less developed wings. This might be a step towards them having very small wings, a condition called brachyptery.
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Discovering Redonda Butterflies
Scientists Michael Jan Adams and George Igor Bernard first described the Redonda genus in 1981. They studied the butterflies' wing patterns, colors, and where they lived. The main species they looked at was Redonda empetrus. This butterfly was first described by a German entomologist named Theodor Otto Thieme in 1905.
At first, Adams and Bernard thought there was only one main species with two subspecies. They also thought Redonda was closely related to two other butterfly groups living in nearby mountains.
About 20 years later, another species, Redonda bordoni, was found. This one came from the southwest part of the Cordillera de Mérida in Táchira. More kinds of Redonda butterflies were known, but they weren't officially described until 2015.
Today, we know there are 10 different species of Redonda butterflies. Each one has its own scientific name:
- Redonda bolivari Adams & Bernard, 1981
- Redonda bordoni Viloria & Pyrcz, 2003
- Redonda castellana Viloria & Camacho, 2015
- Redonda centenaria Viloria & Camacho, 2015
- Redonda chiquinquirana Ferrer-Paris, 2015
- Redonda empetrus (Thieme, 1905)
- Redonda frailejona Ferrer-Paris & Costa, 2015
- Redonda lathraia Viloria & Camacho, 2015
- Redonda leukasmena Viloria & Camacho, 2015
- Redonda lossadana Ferrer-Paris, 2015
How Redonda Butterflies Evolved
The many different species of butterflies in the group called Pronophilina have made scientists wonder how they all came to be. Butterflies living in the páramo mountains might be very old types that were cut off when the Andes mountains rose up. Or, they might be new types that developed recently because they adapted to special places and became isolated.
Early studies suggest that all Redonda butterflies came from a single ancestor. It seems their different species appeared as the páramo areas in the mountains were lifted up and separated over time.
Protecting Redonda Butterflies
One species, R. bordoni, is listed as endangered in Venezuela's Red Book of Fauna. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. Protecting their mountain homes is very important to help these special butterflies survive.
See also
In Spanish: Redonda (animal) para niños
