From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
Nymphalidae
is the largest
family
of
butterflies
, with about 6,000
species
. They live on all
continents
except
Antarctica
.
[1]
They are commonly known as
nymphalids
,
brushfoots
, or
brush-footed butterflies
.
Brushfoots get their name from their front pair of legs. This pair of legs is
reduced
. They do not have
claws
at the end. Only the middle and last pair of legs are used for walking.
[2]
This is why they are called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies.
Many species are brightly colored and include popular species such as the emperors, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. Most hold their colourful wings flat when they are at rest. However, the underwings are often dull; in some species they look just like dead leaves, or are much paler. So when they raise their wings in the normal butterfly position, this
cryptic
effect helps the butterfly disappear into its surroundings.
- ↑
1.0
1.1
Wahlberg, Niklas; Brower, Andrew V.Z.
"Nymphalidae"
.
Tree of Life
. Archived from
the original
on 2020-06-07
. Retrieved
2009-11-17
.
- ↑
Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson (2005).
Borror and Delong's Introduction to the Study of Insects
(7th Edition). Thomas Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA.
ISBN
0-03-096835-6
- ↑
Gerardo Lamas (edited by) (2004).
Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part4A. Hesperioidea-Papilionoidea
. Scientific Publishers, Inc., Gainesville, FL.
ISBN
0-945417-28-4