''Nymphalis'', commonly known as the tortoiseshells or anglewing butterflies, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of brush-footed butterflies. The genera ''

Aglais ''Aglais'' is a Holarctic genus of brush-footed butterflies, containing the tortoiseshells. This genus is sometimes indicated as a subgenus of ''Nymphalis ''Nymphalis'', commonly known as the tortoiseshells or anglewing butterflies, is a ge ...

'', '' Inachis'', '' Polygonia'' and '' Kaniska'', were sometimes included as subgenera of ''Nymphalis''"''Nymphalis'' Kluk, 1780"
at Markku Savela's ''Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms'' but they may instead be treated as distinct genera. See also anglewing butterflies. For other butterflies named tortoiseshells, see the genus ''

''. The name ''Nymphalis'', established by

Jan Krzysztof Kluk Jan Krzysztof Kluk (September 13, 1739 – July 2, 1796) was a Polish naturalist agronomist and entomologist. He was the son of Jan Krzysztof Adrian and Marianna Elżbieta. His father, an impoverished nobleman, was a building contractor and ...

in 1780, is the oldest name among the generic names for a relatively small group of butterflies collectively known as anglewing butterflies. In zoological nomenclature, the oldest name has a priority over other names. The collective name anglewing butterflies is derived from a Latinised term ''Papiliones angulati''. This name was probably used for the first time by

Ignaz Schiffermüller Ignaz Schiffermüller (born 2 October 1727 in Hellmonsödt; died 21 June 1806 in Linz) was an Austrian naturalist mainly interested in Lepidoptera. Schiffermüller was a teacher at the Theresianum College in Vienna. His collection was present ...

in 1775–1776. The anglewing butterflies as a group are characterized by a cryptic silhouette and by the colouration and pattern on the ventral side of both wings. This signature mark is an important taxonomic characteristic as well as a significant evolutionary adaptation. During winter months, in latitudes with snow cover, all members of this group hibernate as adult butterflies.Scott, J. A. (1999)
Hibernal diapause of North American Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea.
''Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera'' 18(3):171-200. During hibernation, hidden in various shelters, the butterflies are dormant. The camouflage provided by crypsis is advantageous to hibernating butterflies. Potential predators will have difficulties in seeing the dormant butterflies. With their wings closed, exposing only the ventral cryptically coloured underside, they blend in with their surroundings. Today, the anglewing butterflies are found only in the northern hemisphere.

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his Nobility#Ennoblement, ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalise ...

described the first members of this group in 1758, and it has since become clear that anglewing butterflies evolved from a common ancestor. The most recent studies include Nylin et al., 2001; Wahlberg & Nylin, 2003; Wahlberg et al. 2011, 2009, 2005. The sister group of ''Nymphalis'' is '' Vanessa''.

Species

Listed alphabetically: *''

Nymphalis antiopa ''Nymphalis antiopa'', known as the mourning cloak in North America and the Camberwell beauty in Britain, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. The immature form of this species is sometimes known as the spiny elm caterpillar ...

'' (

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

, 1758) – mourning cloak or Camberwell beauty *'' Nymphalis californica'' ( Boisduval, 1852) – California tortoiseshell *'' Nymphalis cyanomelas'' ( Doubleday, 848 – Mexican tortoiseshell *'' Nymphalis polychloros'' (

, 1758) – large tortoiseshell or blackleg tortoiseshell *'' Nymphalis vaualbum'' ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) – Compton tortoiseshell or false comma *'' Nymphalis xanthomelas'' ( Esper, 1781) – scarce tortoiseshell or yellow-legged tortoiseshell

Images of species

File:TF Wildpark Johannismuehle 03-14 img08.jpg, Mourning cloak, ''

'' File:Nymphalis californica.jpg, California tortoiseshell, '' Nymphalis californica'' File:Nymphalis polychloros.jpg, Large tortoiseshell, '' Nymphalis polychloros'' File:Compton Tortoiseshell.jpg, Compton tortoiseshell, '' Nymphalis vaualbum'' File:Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas) I IMG 7043.jpg, Scarce tortoiseshell, '' Nymphalis xanthomelas''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q32440 Butterfly genera Taxa named by Jan Krzysztof Kluk