''Leptotes sanctithomae'' is a

butterfly Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

in the family

Lycaenidae Lycaenidae is the second-largest family (biology), family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of ...

. It is found on

São Tomé Island São Tomé Island, at , is the largest island of São Tomé and Príncipe and is home in May 2018 to about 193,380 or 96% of the nation's population. The island is divided into six districts of São Tomé and Príncipe, districts. It is located ...

. The type locality is the settlement of São Nicolau,

Mé-Zóchi District Mé-Zóchi is a district of São Tomé and Príncipe, on São Tomé Island. Its area is . With 44,752 residents (2012) rising to 50,800 in 2018, it is the second most populous district of the country.Emily Mary Bowdler Sharpe Emily Mary Bowdler Sharpe (1868 – ), was an English entomologist, colourist and illustrator. Emily Mary Bowdler Sharpe was the eldest of ten daughters of Richard Bowdler Sharpe (1847–1909) and Emily Eliza Sharpe (née Burrows; 1842–1928). ...

in 1893. This species had long remained enigmatic and was assigned to the genus ''

Chilades ''Chilades'', commonly called jewel blues, is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. The species of this genus are found in the Old World and in Australia. Species Listed alphabetically:Euchrysops">ow viewed as a species of ''Euchrysop ...

'' until 2011, when it was ruled to be the same species as the one so far called ''Leptotes terrenus'' (Joicey & Talbot, 1926), and was moved to the genus '' Leptotes''.Libert, M. 2011. Note sur le genre ''Leptotes'' Scudder, 1876 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). ''Lambillionea'' 111(1): 53–66.

References

Butterflies described in 1893 Leptotes (butterfly) Invertebrates of São Tomé and Príncipe Endemic fauna of São Tomé Island {{Polyommatini-stub