Melitaea
Encyclopedia
Melitaea is a genus
of brush-footed butterflies (family
Nymphalidae). They are here placed in the tribe
Melitaeini
of subfamily Nymphalinae
; some authors elevate this tribe to subfamily rank.
As delimited here, Melitaea includes the genus Mellicta, making the subtribe Melitaeina monotypic
(but see below). For long, it was believed that Mellicta was a junior objective synonym of Melitaea, sharing the same type species
(the Glanville Fritillary
, M. cinxia). This was in error, however; the type species of Mellicta is actually the Heath Fritillary
(M. athalia), making the two taxa junior subjective synonyms and thus eligible to be separated again. However, several other taxa are in fact objective synonyms (or at least have type specimens belonging to the same biological species) of Melitaea and Mellicta – Schoenis and the preoccupied Lucina and Melinaea for the former, Athaliaeformia for the latter.
of Melitaea for the time being. The rationale is that even though the Melitaeina may not be monotypic
, they do not seem to consist of just two genera (Melitaea and Mellicta) either, and recognition of Mellicta appears to leave Melitaea paraphyletic; consequently, other lineages would need elevation to distinct genus status also. As long as it is not fully known which species groups and/or subgenera warrant recognition as full genera, they are all retained in the present genus.
In the following list, species-group/subgenus affiliation and type species
are annotated. In the sensu lato circumscription used here, Melitaea contains almost 90 species
. Most being assignable to one of the 5 groups/subgenera, there are a few that cannot be clearly placed with one of these at present:
Mellicta group
Incertae sedis
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of brush-footed butterflies (family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Nymphalidae). They are here placed in the tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Melitaeini
Melitaeini
Melitaeini are a group of brush-footed butterflies. Usually classified as a tribe of the Nymphalinae, they are sometimes raised to subfamily status as Melitaeinae...
of subfamily Nymphalinae
Nymphalinae
Nymphalinae is a subfamily of brush-footed butterflies . Sometimes, the Limenitidinae are included here as further tribe, while the Melitaeini are occasionally considered a distinct subfamily.- Systematics:...
; some authors elevate this tribe to subfamily rank.
As delimited here, Melitaea includes the genus Mellicta, making the subtribe Melitaeina monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
(but see below). For long, it was believed that Mellicta was a junior objective synonym of Melitaea, sharing the same type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
(the Glanville Fritillary
Glanville Fritillary
The Glanville Fritillary is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.The animal spends most of its life as a black, spiny caterpillar. The orange patterned butterfly lives only a few weeks....
, M. cinxia). This was in error, however; the type species of Mellicta is actually the Heath Fritillary
Heath Fritillary
The Heath Fritillary is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found throughout the Palaearctic from Western Europe to Japan, in heathland, grassland, and in coppiced woodland. Its association with coppiced woodland earned it the name "Woodman's Follower" in parts of the UK...
(M. athalia), making the two taxa junior subjective synonyms and thus eligible to be separated again. However, several other taxa are in fact objective synonyms (or at least have type specimens belonging to the same biological species) of Melitaea and Mellicta – Schoenis and the preoccupied Lucina and Melinaea for the former, Athaliaeformia for the latter.
Species
As noted above, Mellicta is considered to be a subgenusSubgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
of Melitaea for the time being. The rationale is that even though the Melitaeina may not be monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
, they do not seem to consist of just two genera (Melitaea and Mellicta) either, and recognition of Mellicta appears to leave Melitaea paraphyletic; consequently, other lineages would need elevation to distinct genus status also. As long as it is not fully known which species groups and/or subgenera warrant recognition as full genera, they are all retained in the present genus.
In the following list, species-group/subgenus affiliation and type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
are annotated. In the sensu lato circumscription used here, Melitaea contains almost 90 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. Most being assignable to one of the 5 groups/subgenera, there are a few that cannot be clearly placed with one of these at present:
Mellicta group
Incertae sedis
Incertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Melitaea kunlunensis Kudrna & Mracek, 1994
- Melitaea oorschoti Eckweiler, 2008
- Melitaea paludani Clench & Shoumatoff, 1956
- Melitaea tangigharuensis de Freina, 1980
- Melitaea wiltshirei Higgins, 1941