Phengaris
Encyclopedia
Phengaris is a genus
of gossamer-winged butterflies in the subfamily Polyommatinae
. Commonly, these butterflies are called large blues, which if referring to a particular species
is P. arion, a species resident in Europe and some parts of Asia.
Phengaris nowadays includes the genus Maculinea. The type species
of the latter was the Alcon Blue ("M." alcon), which is less closely related to most of the other supposed members of Maculinea than the old Phengaris species are, and hence the two genera are merged to form a monophyletic group. Alternatively
, Maculinea could be restricted to the one or two species of "alcon" blues, and the rest of it be separated as a new genus. But this would mean to maintain two very small genera, which is generally avoided by modern taxonomists. As Phengaris is the older name, it thus replaces Maculinea.
Maculinea was alternatively considered to be a subgenus
of Glaucopsyche
. But while Glaucopsyche and Phengaris (including Maculinea) are certainly close relatives, they are unlikely to be that close.
The most recently discovered species in the genus is P. xiushani
, first reported in 2010 and found in undisturbed forested mountains, unlike all the other members which live in grassland
s over their entire range of distribution.
sequence from the most ancestral to the most apomorphic
, are:
Basal
group (Maculinea sensu stricto)
Phengaris sensu stricto
Other "Maculinea"
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 gossamer-winged butterflies in the subfamily Polyommatinae
Polyommatinae
Polyommatinae, the blues, are a subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies . It was long used to assign taxa of unclear relationships, and its contents are in need of revision...
. Commonly, these butterflies are called large blues, which if referring to a particular 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...
is P. arion, a species resident in Europe and some parts of Asia.
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...
of the latter was the Alcon Blue ("M." alcon), which is less closely related to most of the other supposed members of Maculinea than the old Phengaris species are, and hence the two genera are merged to form a monophyletic group. Alternatively
Lumpers and splitters
Lumping and splitting refers to a well-known problem in any discipline which has to place individual examples into rigorously defined categories. The lumper/splitter problem occurs when there is the need to create classifications and assign examples to them, for example schools of literature,...
, Maculinea could be restricted to the one or two species of "alcon" blues, and the rest of it be separated as a new genus. But this would mean to maintain two very small genera, which is generally avoided by modern taxonomists. As Phengaris is the older name, it thus replaces Maculinea.
Maculinea was alternatively considered to be a subgenus
Subgenus
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 Glaucopsyche
Glaucopsyche
Glaucopsyche, commonly called Blues, is a genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, found mainly in Asia. For other blues see subfamily Polyommatinae...
. But while Glaucopsyche and Phengaris (including Maculinea) are certainly close relatives, they are unlikely to be that close.
The most recently discovered species in the genus is P. xiushani
Phengaris xiushani
Phengaris xiushani is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is only known from Yunnan in China.The forewing length is 21 mm for males...
, first reported in 2010 and found in undisturbed forested mountains, unlike all the other members which live in grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s over their entire range of distribution.
Species
The species, listed in the presumed phylogeneticPhylogenetics
In biology, phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms , which is discovered through molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices...
sequence from the most ancestral to the most apomorphic
Synapomorphy
In cladistics, a synapomorphy or synapomorphic character is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most recent common ancestor, whose ancestor in turn does not possess the trait. A synapomorphy is thus an apomorphy visible in multiple taxa, where the trait in question originates in...
, are:
Basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
group (Maculinea sensu stricto)
- Phengaris alcon – Alcon Blue, Alcon Large Blue
- Phengaris alcon arenaria – Dutch Alcon Blue (extinct)
- Phengaris rebeli – Mountain Alcon Blue (may belong in P. alcon)
Phengaris sensu stricto
- Phengaris daitozana (Wileman, 1908)
- Phengaris albidaPhengaris albidaPhengaris albida is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is only known from western China.-External links:*...
(Leech, 1893) - Phengaris atroguttataPhengaris atroguttataThe Great Spotted Blue is a small butterfly found in India, Myanmar, and China that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-Range:It is found in Nagaland and the Chin Hills of Myanmar. Rare.-Description:...
– Great Spotted Blue - Phengaris xiushaniPhengaris xiushaniPhengaris xiushani is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is only known from Yunnan in China.The forewing length is 21 mm for males...
– Xiushan's Large Blue (Wang & Settele, 2010)
Other "Maculinea"
- Phengaris kurentzovi (Sibatani, Saigusa & Hirowatari, 1994)
- Phengaris nausithous – Dusky Large BlueDusky Large BlueThe Dusky Large Blue is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine.Life cycle...
- Phengaris ogumae (Matsumura, 1910) (tentatively placed here)
- Phengaris teleius – Scarce Large BlueScarce Large BlueThe Scarce Large Blue is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine.The larva of this...
- Phengaris cyanecula (Eversmann, 1848)
- Phengaris arion – Large Blue
- Phengaris ligurica (Wagner, 1904) (may belong in P. arion)
- Phengaris takamukui
- Phengaris arionides – Greater Large BlueGreater Large BlueThe Greater Large Blue is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family.It is found in China, Japan, and Russia.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
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...
- Phengaris xiaheana (Murayama, 1919)