Phytala is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae endemic to the Afrotropical realm. The single species of this genus, Phytala elais, the giant forest blue, is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Uganda.[2] The habitat consists of forests.

Phytala
Scientific classification
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Genus:
Phytala

Westwood, 1851
Species:
P. elais
Binomial name
Phytala elais
Westwood, 1851[1]
Synonyms
  • Phytala elaidina Strand, 1920

Subspecies

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  • Phytala elais elais (eastern Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria: south and the Cross River loop, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo)
  • Phytala elais catori Bethune-Baker, 1903 (Sierra Leone, Liberia, western Ivory Coast)
  • Phytala elais ugandae Jackson, 1964 (Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Sudan, Uganda)

References

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  1. ^ Phytala at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ "Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Subtribe Epitolina". Archived from the original on 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2012-09-18.