Southern Birdwing
Butterfly: SPECIES OF THE DAY
Recently, a Southern Birdwing butterfly has been found
on the satellite campus of The American College in Madurai district of Tamil
Nadu.
Southern Birdwing Butterfly
- Common
Name: Sahyadri Birdwing
- India’s
second largest butterfly species.
- Predominantly
found in the Western Ghats, South Asia.
- Size:
Notably large, with a wingspan surpassing that of smaller birds, hence the
name “birdwing.”
- Appearance:
- Males:
Black wings with greenish-blue markings.
- Females:
More complex patterns with cream-colored markings.
- Conservation
Status: Listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the
IUCN.
- State
Emblem: Recognized as the state butterfly
of Karnataka.
Western Ghats
- Geography:
A mountain range spanning 160,000 sq km, extending about 1,600 km along
India’s western coast.
- States
Covered: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa,
Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
- Global
Significance:
- Classified
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Identified
as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots.
- Ecological
Role: Houses high mountain forests crucial in moderating
the tropical climate and enhancing the monsoon system in the region.