The crow tiger (Tirumala euploeomorpha) is a species of nymphalid butterfly in the Danainae subfamily. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.

Crow tiger
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Tirumala
Species:
T. euploeomorpha
Binomial name
Tirumala euploeomorpha
(Howarth, Kawazoé & Sibatani, 1976)

Morphology

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Male specimens of the crow tiger are dark shades of brown in color over the span of their entire body, mixed with some white markings on the "occiput, apex and surrounds of eyes", and a thin line of white on the thorax.[2] It has lateral and ventral white markings on its body that are common within this group.[2] It has a fore wing length of 40-44 mm, and its wings appear to have a white to dark brown gradient moving inward towards the body.[2] The underside of the wings is quite similar to the above characteristics, but paler due to a lack of brown-colored clouding at the base of the veins in the wings.[2]

No female specimens of this species have been morphologically described.[2]

Examination of genitalia has revealed a close relation to D. (T.) hamata hamata.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Lepidoptera Specialist Group (1996). "Tirumala euploeomorpha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T21916A9340521. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T21916A9340521.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Howarth, T. G.; Kawazoe, Akito; Sibatani, Atuhiro (1976). "A New Mimetic Species of Danaus (tirumala) from the Solomon Islands: Lepidoptera: Danaidae". Lepidoptera Science. 27 (4): 131–137. doi:10.18984/lepid.27.4_131.