Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2015-09-03
Page range: 369–374
Abstract views: 23
PDF downloaded: 1

Phylogenetic position of Electrostrymon picoloro, a new high elevation hairstreak from western Colombia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini)

Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Colombia.
Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, PO Box 37012, NHB Stop 105, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA.
butterfly cloud forest diversification evolutionary stasis Farallones de Cali Pico de Loro

Abstract

The phylogenetic position of a new high-elevation butterfly species, which we describe as Electrostrymon picoloro Prieto & Robbins, new species, is assessed. The ventral wing pattern and genitalic structures of this species are unique among Electrostrymon. This species is also unique among Electrostrymon in that it occurs, so far as is known, only in habitats above 2800 m elevation. A phylogenetic analysis places this species in Electrostrymon as the sister of a multi-species clade. The ancestors of E. picoloro appear to have colonized its high elevation habitat relatively early in the phylogenetic history of Electrostrymon, but the species then did not recolonize lower elevation habitats nor did it diversify into other extant species.