An integrative taxonomic approach supports a new species of Vettius from Central America (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae)
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: We here describe and name a new skipper butterfly in the genus Vettius Godman, 1901, currently known from two sites, one in Costa Rica and the other in Panama. Based on molecular data, Vettius mitsuko Nakahara, Nakamura & MacDonald, n. sp. is recovered as a sister to the type species of Vettius, Papilio phyllus Cramer, 1777. DNA sequence data further indicate V. chagres Nicolay, 1973 to be another closely related species, a relationship consistent with their phenotypic resemblance. The rather small genetic divergence between the two taxa and apparent allopatry might suggest a subspecific rank for V. mitsuko n. sp. instead. However, further evidence from morphology, genetic data and ecology supports our hypothesis of species-level distinction.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:88505A0E-858C-4FDF-AE65-171CF2C05EA9
Source: Journal of Natural History
Authors: Shinichi Nakahara, Richard A. Anderson, Ichiro Nakamura, John R. MacDonald
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3107074146