Narrative

Morpho rhetenor group (Subgenus Cypritis, six species) contains the worlds most brilliantly colored butterflies. Males are a brilliant reflective blue (in some instances with a white pattern). Females are larger with orange and black coloration and are rarely captured. They are not well represented in scientific collections. This is a rare group which has been much in demand by museums, schools, and scientists. The six species are:

SPECIES - - - - LOCATION
Morpho cypris - Colombia
Morpho aphrodite - Central America
Morpho rhetenor - Obidos, Brazil to Venezuela
Morpho diana - Venezuela
Morpho cacica - South Peru
Morpho helena - Peru

Per the Gerardo Lamas list of 2004, the following changes have been made to the taxonomy of this group of Morphos:

Morpho aphrodite(Nicaragua) is now a subspecies of Morpho cypris. Morpho cypris bugaba (Panama and Costa Rica) and Morpho cypris chrysonicus (Venezuela-Colombia) are also subspecies making a total of four subspecies in Morpho cypris including the nominate subspecies (Colombia).

Morpho helena(Peru) and Morpho cacica (Peru) are now subspecies of Morpho rhetenor. Morpho rhetenor columbianus (Venezuela and Colombia) , Morpho rhetenor equatenor (Ecuador and Peru), and Morpho rhetenor subtusmurina (Brazil and Bolivia) are three additional subspecies. This makes a total of 6 subspecies for Morpho rhetenor including the nominate subspecies (French Guyana and Surinam).

Taxonomy

References