Nicephellus is a monotypic genus of Neotropical butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, in which it is placed in tribe Phocidini.[1]

Nicephellus nicephorus
Figure 8
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Nicephellus
G.T.Austin, 2008
Species:
N. nicephorus
Binomial name
Nicephellus nicephorus
(Hewitson, 1876)
Synonyms
  • Eudamus nicephorus Hewitson, 1876
  • Dyscophellus nicephorus
  • Telegonus dexo Mabille, 1888

The sole species of the genus is Nicephellus nicephorus, also called the two-spotted scarlet-eye,[2] and was originally described in 1876 by William Chapman Hewitson as Eudamus nicephorus.[3] It is found from southern Mexico to Peru and western Brazil.[3]

The wingspan is 28–30 mm. The wings are dark brown with red-brown overscaling basad on both wings, with faint pale discal macules on the posterior hindwings (at times extending to the forewings).

Original description edit

Austin, George T. (3 March 2008). "Hesperiidae of Rondonia, Brazil: Taxonomic comments on "night" skippers, with descriptions of new genera and species (Lepidoptera: Eudaminae)". Insecta Mundi. 0029.

References edit

  1. ^ Li, Wenlin; Cong, Qian; Shen, Jinhui; Zhang, Jing; Hallwachs, Winnie; Janzen, Daniel H.; Grishin, Nick V. (26 March 2019). "Genomes of skipper butterflies reveal extensive convergence of wing patterns". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116 (13). Supporting Information: Appendix pp.10–24. Bibcode:2019PNAS..116.6232L. doi:10.1073/pnas.1821304116. PMC 6442542. PMID 30877254.
  2. ^ "Nicephellus nicephorus". www.butterfliesofamerica.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b Austin, George T. (3 March 2008). "Hesperiidae of Rondonia, Brazil: Taxonomic comments on "night" skippers, with descriptions of new genera and species (Lepidoptera: Eudaminae)". Insecta Mundi. 0029. Retrieved 3 September 2022.