''Bebearia'' 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 n ...

of brush-footed butterflies.Afrotropical Butterflies: Nymphalidae - Tribe Adoliadini
/ref> The species are confined to the Afrotropical realm, mainly in the

Guinean Forests of West Africa The Guinean forests of West Africa is a biodiversity hotspot designated by Conservation International, which includes the belt of tropical moist broadleaf forests along the coast of West Africa, running from Sierra Leone and Guinea in the west to ...

and the

Congolian forests The Congolian rainforests are a broad belt of lowland tropical moist broadleaf forests which extend across the basin of the Congo River and its tributaries in Central Africa. They are the only major rainforests which absorb more carbon than the ...

. The genus ''Bebearia'' closely resembles the allied genus ''

Euphaedra ''Euphaedra'' is a butterfly genus in the subfamily Limenitidinae. The species are confined to the Afrotropical realm mainly in the Guinean Forests of West Africa and the Congolian forests. Description ''Euphaedra'' are large and showy butte ...

'' in appearance. The females, especially, are very similar on their uppersides. The undersides of ''Bebearia'' however are invariably cryptically patterned and often resemble dead leaves. In ''Euphaedra'' the underside is usually yellow with black spots and pink basal patches. ''Euphaedra'' have orange palpi while those of ''Bebearia'' are brown. In ''Euphaedra'' the forewing apex is always rounded and not falcate (sickle shaped).Jacques Hecq, 2000, ''Schmetterlinge der Erde'', Butterflies of the world Part IX (9), Nymphalidae IV -Bebearia. Edited by Erich Bauer and Thomas Frankenbach Keltern : Goecke & Evers ; Canterbury : Hillside Books. and Supplement 3 - Detailed text in French. The member species are diverse.

Taxonomy

The

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen( ...

of the genus is '' Euryphene iturina'' Karsch.

Species groups

Defining species groups is a convenient way of subdividing well-defined genera with a large number of recognized species. ''Bebearia'' species are so arranged in assemblages called "species groups" but (not superspecies, but an informal

phenetic In biology, phenetics ( el, phainein – to appear) , also known as taximetrics, is an attempt to classify organisms based on overall similarity, usually in morphology or other observable traits, regardless of their phylogeny or evolutionary re ...

arrangement). These may or may not be

clades A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term ...

. As

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

studies continue, lineages distinct enough to warrant some formal degree of recognition become evident and new groupings are suggested, but consistent ranking remains a problem.

Species

Subgenus In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed betw ...

''Apectinaria'' Hecq, 1990 **The ''tentyris''

species group In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

***''

Bebearia abesa ''Bebearia abesa'', the black forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Sub ...

'' (Hewitson, 1869) ***''

Bebearia absolon ''Bebearia absolon'', the Absolon forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the ...

'' (Fabricius, 1793) ***''

Bebearia amieti ''Bebearia amieti'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon. References Butterflies described in 1994 amieti Endemic fauna of Cameroon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Hecq, 1994 ***''

Bebearia carshena ''Bebearia carshena'', the shining blue forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (fre ...

'' (Hewitson, 1871) ***''

Bebearia dallastai ''Bebearia dallastai'', Dall'Asta's forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in eastern Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the souther ...

'' Hecq, 1994 ***''

Bebearia languida ''Bebearia languida'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. References Butterflies described in 1920 languida {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' (Schultze, 1920) ***''

Bebearia lucayensis ''Bebearia lucayensis'', the plain forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Repub ...

'' Hecq, 1996 ***''

Bebearia mandinga ''Bebearia mandinga'', the Mandinga forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the ...

'' (C. & R. Felder, 1860) ***'' Bebearia micans'' Hecq, 1987 ***''

Bebearia osyris ''Bebearia osyris'', or Winifred's forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a ...

'' (Schultze, 1920) ***''

Bebearia oxione ''Bebearia oxione'', the banded forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (fren ...

'' (Hewitson, 1866) ***''

Bebearia partita ''Bebearia partita'', the falcate forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as ...

'' (Aurivillius, 1895) ***''

Bebearia subtentyris ''Bebearia subtentyris'', the upland plain forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon. The habitat consists of sub-montane forests. Subspecies *''Bebearia subtentyris subtentyris'' (western Cameroon) *''Bebear ...

'' (Strand, 1912) ***''

Bebearia tentyris ''Bebearia tentyris'', or Hewitson's forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ...

'' (Hewitson, 1866) ***''

Bebearia zonara ''Bebearia zonara'', the light brown forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Bioko, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo ...

'' (Butler, 1871) **The ''comus'' species group ***'' Bebearia cinaethon'' (Hewitson, 1874) ***'' Bebearia comus'' (Ward, 1871) ***'' Bebearia ikelemba'' (Aurivillius, 1901) **The ''mardania'' species group ***'' Bebearia cocalia'' (Fabricius, 1793) ***'' Bebearia cocalioides'' Hecq, 1990 ***'' Bebearia guineensis'' (C. & R. Felder, 1867) ***'' Bebearia mardania'' (Fabricius, 1793) ***'' Bebearia orientis'' (Karsch, 1895) ***'' Bebearia senegalensis'' (Herrich-Schäffer, 1850) **The ''sophus'' species group ***'' Bebearia sophus'' (Fabricius, 1793) **The ''barce'' species group ***'' Bebearia barce'' (Doubleday, 1847) **The ''staudingeri'' species group ***'' Bebearia staudingeri'' (Aurivillius, 1893) **The ''plistonax'' species group ***''

Bebearia arcadius ''Bebearia arcadius'', the Arcadian, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country ...

'' (Fabricius, 1793) ***'' Bebearia plistonax'' (Hewitson, 1874) **The ''elpinice'' species group ***'' Bebearia elpinice'' (Hewitson, 1869) ***'' Bebearia hassoni'' Hecq, 1998 **Unknown species group ***'' Bebearia paludicola'' Holmes, 2001 *Subgenus ''Bebearia'' **The ''brunhilda'' species group ***'' Bebearia allardi'' Hecq, 1989 ***''

Bebearia brunhilda ''Bebearia brunhilda'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and possibly Tanzania. Subspecies *''Bebearia brunhilda brunhilda'' (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Co ...

'' (Kirby, 1889) ***'' Bebearia chriemhilda'' (Staudinger, 1895) ***'' Bebearia congolensis'' (Capronnier, 1889) ***''

Bebearia cottoni ''Bebearia cottoni'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the central basin). References Butterflies described in 1908 cottoni Endemic fauna of the Democratic Republic of the ...

'' (Bethune-Baker, 1908) ***'' Bebearia dowsetti'' Hecq, 1990 ***''

Bebearia fontainei ''Bebearia fontainei'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Sankuru in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. References Butterflies described in 1981 fontainei Endemic fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

'' Berger, 1981 ***'' Bebearia fulgurata'' (Aurivillius, 1904) ***'' Bebearia hargreavesi'' D'Abrera, 1980 ***'' Bebearia laetitioides'' (Joicey & Talbot, 1921) ***'' Bebearia schoutedeni'' (Overlaet, 1954) **The ''severini'' species group ***'' Bebearia aurora'' (Aurivillius, 1896) ***''

Bebearia discors ''Bebearia discors'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Uele and Sankuru). References Butterflies described in 1994 discors {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Hecq, 1994 ***''

Bebearia improvisa ''Bebearia improvisa'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. References Butterflies described in 2000 improvisa Endemic fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Butterflie ...

'' Hecq, 2000 ***'' Bebearia juno'' Hecq, 1990 ***''

Bebearia kiellandi ''Bebearia kiellandi'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in north-western Tanzania. The habitat consists of forests. Adults are attracted to fermenting banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botani ...

'' Hecq, 1993 ***'' Bebearia laetitia'' (Plötz, 1880) ***''

Bebearia oremansi ''Bebearia oremansi'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial; french: Guinée équatoriale; pt, Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equ ...

'' Hecq, 1994 ***''

Bebearia peetersi ''Bebearia peetersi'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Central African Republic (the Sangba Reserve) and northern Cameroon. References Butterflies described in 1994 peetersi Butterflies of Africa {{L ...

'' Hecq, 1994 ***'' Bebearia phranza'' (Hewitson, 1865) ***''

Bebearia severini ''Bebearia severini'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ubangi, Mongala, Uele, northern Kivu, Tshopo and Sankuru). References Butterflies described in 1897 se ...

'' (Aurivillius, 1898) ***'' Bebearia tessmanni'' (Grünberg, 1910) **The ''flaminia'' species group ***''

Bebearia bioculata ''Bebearia bioculata'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon. References Butterflies described in 1998 bioculata Endemic fauna of Cameroon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Hecq, 1998 ***'' Bebearia defluera'' Hecq, 1998 ***'' Bebearia denticula'' Hecq, 2000 ***'' Bebearia ducarmei'' Hecq, 1988 ***'' Bebearia flaminia'' (Staudinger, 1891) ***''

Bebearia intermedia ''Bebearia intermedia'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Bra ...

'' (Bartel, 1905) ***''

Bebearia liberti ''Bebearia liberti'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon. References Butterflies described in 1998 liberti Endemic fauna of Cameroon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Hecq, 1998 ***'' Bebearia maximiana'' (Staudinger, 1891) ***'' Bebearia nivaria'' (Ward, 1871) **The ''phantasia'' species group ***'' Bebearia demetra'' (Godart, 1819) ***'' Bebearia leptotypa'' (Bethune-Baker, 1908) ***'' Bebearia maledicta'' (Strand, 1912) ***''

Bebearia phantasia ''Bebearia phantasia'', the fantasia, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of primary forests. The larvae feed ...

'' (Hewitson, 1865) ***''

Bebearia phantasiella ''Bebearia phantasiella'', the fantasiella, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda and Tanzania. The habitat consists of forests. Subspecies *''Bebearia phantasiella phantasiella'' (Nigeria, Came ...

'' (Staudinger, 1891) ***'' Bebearia phantasina'' (Staudinger, 1891) ***'' Bebearia tini'' Oremans, 1998 **The ''cutteri'' species group ***''

Bebearia ashantina ''Bebearia ashantina'', the Ashanti forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Ivory Coast and Ghana. The habitat consists of forests. Adults are attracted to fallen fruit. References Butterflies described in 1 ...

'' (Dudgeon, 1913) ***'' Bebearia barombina'' (Staudinger, 1895) ***'' Bebearia baueri'' Hecq, 2000 ***''

Bebearia braytoni ''Bebearia braytoni'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the Beni-Irumu region) and the Central African Republic. References Butterflies described in 1907 braytoni Butterfli ...

'' (Sharpe, 1907) ***'' Bebearia chilonis'' (Hewitson, 1874) ***'' Bebearia chloeropis'' (Bethune-Baker, 1908) ***'' Bebearia cutteri'' (Hewitson, 1865) ***'' Bebearia eliensis'' (Hewitson, 1866) ***''

Bebearia equatorialis ''Bebearia equatorialis'', the equatorial forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, which lives in the northwestern forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. References Butterflies described in 1989 equatorialis Ende ...

'' Hecq, 1989 ***''

Bebearia faraveli ''Bebearia faraveli'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Gabon. References Butterflies described in 1998 faraveli Endemic fauna of Gabon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Oremans, 1998 ***'' Bebearia innocua'' Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1889 ***''

Bebearia jolyana ''Bebearia jolyana'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in south-eastern Cameroon. References Butterflies described in 1989 jolyana Endemic fauna of Cameroon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Hecq, 1989 ***''

Bebearia luteola ''Bebearia luteola'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Mongala, Uele, north Kivu, Tshopo and Lualaba). References Butterflies described in 1908 luteola Endemic fauna of the ...

'' (Bethune-Baker, 1908) ***'' Bebearia makala'' (Bethune-Baker, 1908) ***'' Bebearia octogramma'' (Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1889) ***'' Bebearia picturata'' Hecq, 1989 ***''

Bebearia raeveli ''Bebearia raeveli'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Central African Republic and south-eastern Cameroon. References Butterflies described in 1989 raeveli Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Hecq, 1989 **Unknown species group ***''

Bebearia fontaineana ''Bebearia fontaineana'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of wet forests. Subspecies *''Bebearia fontaineana fontaineana'' (Democratic Republic o ...

'' Hecq, 1987 ***'' Bebearia inepta'' Hecq, 2001 ***''

Bebearia occitana ''Bebearia occitana'', the Occitana forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. The habitat consists of undisturbed wet forests. References Butterflies described in 1989 occ ...

'' Hecq, 1989 ***'' Bebearia omo'' Larsen & Warren, 2005 ***''

Bebearia warrengashi ''Bebearia warrengashi'', or Warren-Gash's forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern ...

'' Hecq, 2000 *Unknown subgenus **''

Bebearia bouyeri ''Bebearia bouyeri'' is a species of butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Cameroon. References Butterflies described in 2007 bouyeri Endemic fauna of Cameroon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' van de Weghe, 2007 **'' Bebearia castanea'' (Holland, 1893) **''

Bebearia ducalis ''Bebearia ducalis'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. References Butterflies described in 1911 ducalis Endemic fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Butterflies of ...

'' (Grünberg, 1912) **''

Bebearia ivindoensis ''Bebearia ivindoensis'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Gabon. References Butterflies described in 2007 ivindoensis Endemic fauna of Gabon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' van de Weghe, 2007 **'' Bebearia lopeensis'' van de Weghe, 2007 **''

Bebearia pulchella ''Bebearia pulchella'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Central African Republic. References Butterflies described in 2006 pulchella ''Pulchella'' is a diatom genus in the family Naviculaceae. Species ...

'' Hecq, 2006 **'' Bebearia romboutsi'' Hecq, 2001 **''

Bebearia vandeweghei ''Bebearia vandeweghei'' is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Gabon. References Butterflies described in 2005 vandeweghei Endemic fauna of Gabon Butterflies of Africa {{Limenitidinae-stub ...

'' Hecq, 2005

References

Seitz, A. ''Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde'' 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 40 et seq.

External links

''Bebearia'' types

Royal Museum for Central Africa The Royal Museum for Central Africa or RMCA ( nl, Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika or KMMA; french: Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale or MRAC; german: Königliches Museum für Zentralafrika or KMZA), also officially known as the AfricaMuse ...

images {{Taxonbar, from=Q4878319 Limenitidinae Nymphalidae genera Taxa named by Francis Hemming