Morpho adonis Cramer 1779

Morpho adonis, the Adonis morpho, is a Neotropical butterfly. It is found in Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Peru. The wingspan ranges from 70 to 90 millimetres (2.8 to 3.5 in).

Morpho adonis is a species group which includes several species.

• Morpho adonis (Guianas, Cayenne)
• Morpho eugenia (Guyana)
• Morpho uraneis (Brazil)
• Morpho marcus probably conspecific with adonis and the correct name.

Ucayali River habitat in Peru

Habitat

Morpho adonis is found in mid-elevation rain forest at altitudes between about 300–1000 meters above sea level.

Behaviour

In 1913, Hans Fruhstorfer wrote: "Dr. Hahnel reports its capture at Iquitos and Pebas. There it flies quickly and impetuously (sometimes at an elevation of 12 ft.), dashing out from among the branches, crossing the road and following clearings among the trees, in which they sail along just over the tops or in and out among the branches."^[1]

Etymology

The butterfly is named for the mythological Adonis, the Greek god of beauty and desire.

References

• Le Moult (E.) & Réal (P.), 1962-1963. Les Morpho d'Amérique du Sud et Centrale, Editions du cabinet entomologique E. Le Moult, Paris.
• Paul Smart, 1976 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World in Color. London, Salamander: Encyclopedie des papillons. Lausanne, Elsevier Sequoia (French language edition) ISBN 9780948427046 ISBN 0600313816 page 232 as Morpho adonis, ssp.huallaga Michael, female fig.3 (Peru), ssp.huallaga Michael, male underside fig. 5 (Peru), ssp. adonis, male fig 4 (Guyana).

Morpho adonis (Anglice Adonis morpho) est papilio neotropica, in Surinamia, Guiana Francica, Columbia, Aequatoria, Brasilia, et Peruvia endemicus. Latitudo alarum est 70–90mm.

Morpho adonis est grex specierum, qui nonnullas species comprehendit:

• Morpho adonis (Guianae, Cayenne^?)
• Morpho eugenia (Guiana)
• Morpho uraneis (Brasilia)
• Morpho marcus fortasse conspecificus cum adonis et nomen rectum

Etymologia

Haec papilio ex Adone, persona in mythologia Graeca, appellatur.

Bibliographia

• Le Moult, Eugène, et Pierre Réal 1962-1963. Les Morpho d'Amérique du Sud et Centrale. Lutetiae: Editions du cabinet entomologique E. Le Moult.

Nexus externi

• ia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/morphinae/morpho/index.html#marcus Pagina Marcus apud situm ftp.funet.fi
• Photographemata apud situm butterflycorner.net

Morpho adonis is een vlinder uit de familie Nymphalidae.^[1] De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1779 door Pieter Cramer.