In a recent development, Tamil Nadu has marked the first sighting of the rare butterfly species Palmking (Amathusia phidippus). The illustrious sighting brings the total count of butterfly species in Tamil Nadu to 321, out of an impressive 1,500 species spread across India.
A Brief History
The Palmking is not entirely new to the flora and fauna experts in South India. British scientist H.S. Ferguson was the first to document the presence of this butterfly species in 1891. After more than a century, it was rediscovered in 2007.
Characteristics of the Palmking Butterfly
The distinctive brown hue and dark bands lend the Palmking its easily recognisable appearance. This butterfly belongs to the Nymphalidae subfamily and has a predilection for feeding on palm, coconut, and calamus plant varieties. The Palmking tends to be a reclusive creature, often choosing to rest in shaded areas. Spotting a Palmking may prove challenging, as its wood-like colour provides easy camouflage and it seldom spreads its wings.
Distribution of the Palmking Butterfly
The Palmking can be found across a broad distribution, from the Indian subcontinent to regions including Myanmar, Indo China, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. Its presence also extends to the Indonesian archipelago and the Philippines. Within India, confirmed sightings of the Palmking have been made in the forest reserves of Arippa and Shendurney, as well as in the south of Western Ghats at the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
A question related to flora and fauna from UPSC 2016 reads: “Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?” The options provided were: (a) Andaman Islands, (b) Anaimalai Forests, (c) Maikal Hills, (d) Tropical rain forests of northeast.
The correct answer is (a) Andaman Islands. This novel species of banana, Musa indandamanensis, was unearthed by a team of scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). This team managed an exploration of a remote Krishna Nalah tropical rain forest on the Little Andaman Islands. This discovery serves as yet another testament to the rich biological diversity of India.
