Papilio amynthor (New Caledonia)

[Trehopr1]

Another seldom seen species these days....
The location alone makes it a very unique
item to have in ones collection.

[daveuk]

I have two males & a female of this one.

[Chuck]

I wonder if this species is closely related to fuscus? There are marked morphological differences that make me think it may be closer to nephelus or something.

@adam, any idea? Neither it nor fuscus are in We et. al. Asian Pterourus so I've nothing to go on.

[adamcotton]

Papilio amynthor is related to the aegeus group, which includes P. bridgei and other related species. A paper on the phylogeny of Papilio (s.l.) is in the pipeline. There will be a significant number of interesting results in this paper, but I can't say more now.

Adam.

[Chuck]

Papilio amynthor is related to the aegeus group, which includes P. bridgei and other related species. A paper on the phylogeny of Papilio (s.l.) is in the pipeline. There will be a significant number of interesting results in this paper, but I can't say more now.

Adam.

Oh! Oh! I can't wait! The changes to long-held relationships is amazing.

@adam, darn, you got it. I knew I'd seen that morphology before, but couldn't place it. Yes, checked my bridgei and there it is.

[Trehopr1]

Very nice clean specimens Dave !

Bravo

The examples I'd shown were in a friend's collection. He remarked that New Caledonia has been practically a nature reserve (throughout) for decades. Thus, it's unlikely anything may ever come from there again.

[daveuk]

Thank You Trehopr
I have very few butterflies from New Caledonia in my collection.