Myrina (butterfly)

Myrina
Myrina silenus from Caspar Stoll's Uitlandsche Kapellen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Tribe: Amblypodiini
Genus: Myrina
Fabricius, 1807

Myrina is a purely Afrotropical genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae containing a total of five species.[1] It comprises five recognized species, each distinguished by unique morphological characteristics suited to their specific habitats across Africa. The genus was named after Myrina, a queen of the Amazons, aligning with a historical trend where early naturalists named insect species after figures from classical mythology.

Species

The genus Myrina includes the following species:

Etymology

The genus Myrina follows a common naming convention among early entomologists, who frequently chose names of mythological figures and legendary heroes. Myrina, in this context, is a tribute to the Amazonian queen, reflecting a motif of strength and resilience observed in the butterfly’s adaptation to its native environment.

References

  1. ^ Williams, Mark C. Butterflies and Skippers of the Afrotropical region, (Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) CD encyclopaedia 2002
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