Commander
02-Jan-2008, 11:43 PM
After cross-referencing several recent books as well as the Malayan Nature Journal's C&P4 Update, I have revised the Singapore Butterfly Checklist (http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2382/sgchecklist.htm) to reflect the latest in taxonomical classification of the species of butterflies.
The latest update in 2008 is consistent with the recent re-classification developments and updates to C&P4 in the Malaysian Nature Journal 59(1), pp 1 - 49, and DNA mapping of the family Nymphalidae by Wahlberg et al, whereby the subfamilies Nymphalinae, Heliconiinae, Limenitidinae, Cyrestinae and Apaturinae are now applicable to the Singapore checklist.
The family Riodinidae, which was earlier placed as a subfamily of Lycaenidae, has also been reinstated to the family level.
Whilst we continue to analyse and discover new aspects of the ID of our local species, we will continue with this baseline checklist, which is far more accurate and credible than any other party has ever done for the Singapore butterfly biodiversity documentation.
In particular, the families Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae are likely to yield at least more than a dozen species which are currently not recorded in our checklist. However, let us take it slowly but surely, before we lay claim to the existence of a particular species for Singapore.
Special thanks must be given to our hardworking members of ButterflyCircle, in particular our cat farmers and sharp eyed photographers (you know who you are!), for increasing the number of species in the checklist regularly and reliably with compelling evidence. Kudos to you all! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
The latest update in 2008 is consistent with the recent re-classification developments and updates to C&P4 in the Malaysian Nature Journal 59(1), pp 1 - 49, and DNA mapping of the family Nymphalidae by Wahlberg et al, whereby the subfamilies Nymphalinae, Heliconiinae, Limenitidinae, Cyrestinae and Apaturinae are now applicable to the Singapore checklist.
The family Riodinidae, which was earlier placed as a subfamily of Lycaenidae, has also been reinstated to the family level.
Whilst we continue to analyse and discover new aspects of the ID of our local species, we will continue with this baseline checklist, which is far more accurate and credible than any other party has ever done for the Singapore butterfly biodiversity documentation.
In particular, the families Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae are likely to yield at least more than a dozen species which are currently not recorded in our checklist. However, let us take it slowly but surely, before we lay claim to the existence of a particular species for Singapore.
Special thanks must be given to our hardworking members of ButterflyCircle, in particular our cat farmers and sharp eyed photographers (you know who you are!), for increasing the number of species in the checklist regularly and reliably with compelling evidence. Kudos to you all! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: