Systematics of the Neotropical butterfly genus Paryphthimoides Forster, 1964 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), with descriptions of seven new taxa

Abstract

A systematic revision of Paryphthimoides, a satyrine genus widely distributed in Central and South America, is presented based on an integrative approach. Molecular phylogeny inferred using multiple methods with nuclear (GAPDH, RpS5) and mitochondrial (COI) genes indicates that Paryphthimoides, as currently circumscribed, is polyphyletic. A new taxonomic arrangement is proposed reflecting the monophyly based on molecular and morphological evidence. Paryphthimoides now comprises 14 taxa, namely: P. poltys poltys (Prittwitz, 1865), P. poltys numilia (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867) stat. nov., P. vestigiata (Butler, 1867), P. fridae Zacca, Casagrande, Huertas & Nakahara sp. nov., P. jorupe Zacca, Casagrande, Checa & Willmott sp. nov., P. terrestris terrestris (Butler, 1867) comb. nov., P. terrestris muyrakytan Zacca, Casagrande & Mielke ssp. nov., P. terrestris araguaianus Zacca, Casagrande & Mielke ssp. nov., P. terrestris grevei Zacca, Casagrande & Mielke ssp. nov., P. touloulou (Benmesbah, 2015) comb. nov., P. brixius brixius (Godart, [1824]) comb. nov., P. brixius madre Zacca, Mielke, Casagrande & Lamas ssp. nov., P. brixius rouranensis Brévignon ssp. nov. and P. flavofascia (Zacca & Siewert, 2014) comb. nov. Euptychia zeredatha Butler, 1869 and P. bahneri Anken, 1994 are new synonyms of P. p. poltys, and Euptychia binalinea Butler, 1867 and E. poltys bahiana Bryk, 1953 are new synonyms of P. poltys numilia. Lectotypes are designated for Euptychia zeredatha, Neonympha numilia, Euptychia vestigiata, Euptychia terrestris and Euptychia brixiola, Butler, 1867 and a neotype is designated for Satyrus brixius. In addition, female morphology is described for the first time for all available species, and biological data and distributional maps are provided for all species. Last instar and pupae of Paryphthimoides p. poltys are also described.