The Menelaus blue morpho is one of thirty species of butterfly in the subfamily Morphinae, with a wingspan of about 12 centimetres; its dorsal forewings and hindwings are a bright, iridescent blue edged in black, while the undersides are brown. Its iridescent wings, of interest to researchers for their distinctive nanostructure, made it valuable among collectors and led to widespread hunting of the species in the twentieth century.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceBright iridescent blue dorsal wings with black edges, brown ventral surfaces, wingspan about 12 cm 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Wikipedia: Morpho menelaus
In Ecosystem
Source Wikipedia: Morpho menelaus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Morpho menelaus
Lead, sentence 1
The Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is one of 30 species of butterfly in the subfamily Morphinae.
Article body, wing description sentence
Its wingspan is about 12 cm (4.7 in), and its dorsal forewings and hindwings are a bright, iridescent blue with black edges, while the ventral surfaces are brown.
- considered valuable among collectors and was widely hunted in the 20th century
Feeding
Both sexes have a slow and floppy flight pattern and feed on rotting fruit that has dropped to the ground.
In Ecosystem: Cerrado, article text (ecosystem), EntityId 285518, target E16360
This neotropical butterfly is found in Central and South America, including the Cerrado which is a vast tropical savanna in Brazil.
In Biome: Savanna, habitat statement
This neotropical butterfly is found in Central and South America, including the Cerrado which is a vast tropical savanna in Brazil.
View the Source2. Morpho menelaus (Wikipedia)
3. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Insectos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Insects","language":"EN"},{"name":"Insectes","language":"FR"},{"name":"昆虫纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source 4. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Morpho menelaus
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 5133523, category fieldQuote, GBIF taxon key 5133523, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Wikidata: Blue Morpho
Wikidata Q545709, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Morpho
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 1755Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 1755
"cites_listing":"III/NC","eu_listing":"C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":"Lepidoptera","family":"Nymphalidae"},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: LepidopteraView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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