The World of Birdwing
Butterflies
AETHEOPTERA VICTORIAE
In the years of 1884 and 1885 two Royal Naval vessels 'Herald' and
'Rattlesnake' visited the Solomon Islands, Aneitum, New Hebrides and Fiji. In
Guadalcanal island in the Solomons, this large butterfly was seen at the top of
the tree canopy. It was, however, out of reach until the naturalist John
McGillivray managed to shoot down a female by his gun. The type specimen is
therefore perforated by the many small shots.
The first male, from Malayta Island, was collected by C. M. Woodford in 1886.
The specimen arrived unlabelled to England, so some speculation arose as to
its origin.
Further confusion about Aetheoptera victoriae's distribution came
about when Rippon in his 'Icones' quoted victoriae from Fiji Islands, a
misunderstanding caused by Lord Rothschild having purchased a pair from a
captain of a merchant vessel. This captain claimed the specimens had been
captured in Fiji.
The actual distribution is restricted to the Solomon Islands.
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subspecies. |
A.victoriae epiphanes
| Auctor: |
Schmid, 1970 |
| Distribution: |
San Christobal Is. |
| Etymology: |
Title held by the sovereigns of the Selucid and Ptolemaic
dynasties. |
| Notes: |
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Described forms: |
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mf. brossardi Deslisle, 1995 |
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mf. julesi Deslisle & Sclavo, 2008 |
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mf. belai Deslisle & Sclavo, 2008 |
| Auctor: |
Rothschild, 1908 |
| Distribution: |
Santa Isabel Is. |
| Etymology: |
Named after its type locality, Santa Isabel Is. |
| Notes: |
A.victoriae regis
| Auctor: |
Rothschild, 1895 |
| Syn.: |
resplendens Ehrmann, 1925 |
| Syn.: |
buinensis Le Moult, 1912 |
| Distribution: |
Bougainville Is., ? Alu Is., Choiseul Is., ? Buka Is. |
| Etymology: |
Regis = king. |
| Notes: |
|
Described forms: |
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mf. gabrieli Le Moult, 1911
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mf. alexisi Le Moult, 1912
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mf. lanieli Le Moult, 1912
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mf. brabanti Le Moult, 1912 |
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mf. infanta Bryk & Peebless 1932
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mf. ponceletanus Rousseau-Decelle, 1946
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mf. flamea Rousseau-Decelle, 1946
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mf. sanguinea Rousseau-Decelle, 1946
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mf. niclasi Schäffler, 2001 |
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ff. brabanti Le Moult, 1912
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f. ponceleti Rothschild, 1936 (gynandromorph)
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A.victoriae reginae
| Auctor: |
Salvin, 1888 |
| Syn.: |
victoriae Salvin & Godman, 1887 nec Gray,
1856 |
| Syn.: |
buinensis Grose Smith, 1887 nec Gray, 1856 |
| Distribution: |
Malaita Is. |
| Etymology: |
Reginae = queen. |
| Notes: |
A.victoriae maramasikensis
| Auctor: |
Morita, 2000 |
| Distribution: |
Mara Masike Is. (=Small Malaita Is.) |
| Etymology: |
Named after its type locality, Mara Masike Is. |
| Notes: |
Matsuka (2001) treated this subspecies as a synonym of
A.
victoriae reginae. |
A.victoriae victoriae
| Auctor: |
Gray, 1856 |
| Distribution: |
Guadalcanal Is., Florida (= Ngella ) Is., Tulahi (= Tulagi)
Is. |
| Etymology: |
Named in honour of queen Victoria. |
| Notes: |
|
Described forms: |
|
mf. brossardi Deslisle, 1995 |
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mf. niclasi Schäffler, 2001 |
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mf. gousseyi Deslisle, 2008 |
A.victoriae rubianus
| Auctor: |
Rothschild, 1895 |
| Distribution: |
Kolombangara Is., Rendova Is., Rubiana Is., ? Ranongga
Is. |
| Etymology: |
Named after its type locality, Rubiana Is. |
| Notes: |
|
Described forms: |
|
mf. noellann Rumbucher, 1973 |
|
mf. niclasi Schäffler, 2001 |
| |
ff. gisoensis Haugum & Low,
1978 |
| Auctor: |
Calderara, 1984 |
| Distribution: |
N and W Choiseul Is. |
| Etymology: |
Named in honour of British entomologist Edward
N. Archer, who |
| |
collected the type specimens of this
subspecies. |
| Notes: |
|
Described forms: |
|
mf. niclasi Schäffler, 2001 |
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