Satyrinae

Taxobox
name = Satyrinae

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image_width = 220px
image_caption = Speckled wood, "Pararge aegeria"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
unranked_familia = Rhopalocera
superfamilia = Papilionoidea
familia = Nymphalidae
subfamilia = Satyrinae
subfamilia_authority =
diversity = Over 280 genera Presently some 2,400 species
diversity_link = List of Satyrinae genera
subdivision_ranks = Tribes
subdivision =
Elymniini
Eritini
Haeterini
Melanitini
Ragadiini
Satyrini and see text.
synonyms =Satyridae

Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the Browns, is a subfamily of the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies). They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known diversity of brush-footed butterflies. It is estimated that the true number of Satyrinae species may exceed 2,400 [TLTP (2007)] .

Overview

They are generally weak fliers and often shun bright sunlight. The caterpillars feed chiefly on monocotyledonous plants such as palms, grasses and bamboos. The Morphinae are sometimes united with this group.

The taxonomy and systematics of the subfamily are under heavy revision. Much of the early pioneering work of L. D. Miller [e.g. Miller (1968)] has helped significantly by creating some sort of order. "Dyndirus" Capronnier, 1874 is a satyrid "incertae sedis". Other than this genus, according to the latest studies on the classification of Nymphalidae all satyrines have been assigned to one of the 6 tribes, at least preliminarily [See references in Savela (2007)] . For detailed lists, see the tribe pages.

Footnotes

References

*aut|Miller, L.D. (1968): The higher classification, phylogeny and zoogeography of the Satyridae (Lepidoptera). "Mem. Am. Entomol. Soc." 24: [vi] + iv + 1-174.
* (2007): [http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/satyrinae/index.html Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms: Satyrinae] . Version of 2007-MAY-12. Retrieved 2007-MAY-31.
* (2007): [http://www.ucl.ac.uk/taxome/rhopnos.html Taxonomy of butterflies: the scale of the problem] . Retrieved 2007-SEP-07.

External links

* [http://tolweb.org/Satyrinae/12189 Tree of Life: Satyrinae]
* [http://www.satyrus.net/ Pictorial guide on Neotropical Satyrinae]