A rare butterfly species, the great four-ring (Ypthima cantliei), has been spotted in India after a gap of 61 years.
Discovery location: The butterfly was found in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh.
A team including a policeman, Roshan Upadhaya, and researchers from BNHS and Cotton University made the discovery.
The findings were published in a paper by the Bombay Natural History Society.
Details about the Butterfly and its Habitat
The great four-ring belongs to the Satyrinae subfamily, which is part of the Nymphalidae family.
The Ypthima genus is diverse, with most species found in China, particularly in Yunnan and Sichuan.
Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar also have a significant number of species.
The butterfly has dull brown-grey wings with distinctive yellow-ringed eye spots.
Habitat: Namdapha National Park, known for its biodiversity, provided the suitable environment for the butterfly's survival.
Significance of the Discovery
Little is known about the current population and distribution of the great four-ring butterfly.
The rediscovery highlights the need for more research on butterfly diversity in India, especially in regions like the Northeast.
The findings contribute to understanding the ecological requirements of the species and inform conservation efforts.
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