Graphium leonidas (Veined Swordtail)
Graphium leonidas, also called Veined Swordtail is a butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1793 by Fabricius. The wingspan is about 8 – 10 cm. Graphium leonidas is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black. White spots and areas dominate the wings. Hind wings have no tails.
Photos for easy identification
 |
 |
Here you can see some photos of Graphium leonidas (Veined Swordtail). Graphium leonidas is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa).
Description
The fore wings are black. The edge is wavy. Many white spots dominate the wing.
The underside is very similar to the upside. But, the basic colour is brown.
The hind wings are black. The edge is wavy. At the outer edge there are two chains of little white spots. Next to the body there is a large white area.
The underside is very similar to the upside. But, the basic colour is brown. And the veins are very dark.
The body (abdomen) is black. The thorax is black. The head is black. The underside of all parts is black and it has white spots. The underside of the abdomen is white.
Sex differences: ---
Distribution
Graphium leonidas is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). You can observe this butterfly in Africa (south of Sahara).
 |
Larval food
Annonaceae:
- Annona senegalensis
- Artabotrys
- Landolphia buchananii
- Landolphia ugandensis
- Monanthotaxis caffra
- Popowia
- Uvaria leptocladon
- Uvaria versicolor
General information
The first description of this butterfly was in 1793 by Fabricius. There are three subspecies.
- Graphium leonidas santamarthae [Joicey & Talbot, 1927]
- Graphium leonidas thomasius [Le Cerf, 1924]
- Graphium leonidas pelopidas [Oberthür, 1879]
 |
 |
Here you can see the subspecies Graphium leonidas pelopidas. The wingspan is about 8 - 9 cm.
 |
 |
Here you can see the form Graphium leonidas f plagifera. The wingspan is about 6 - 9 cm.
Protection provisions / Red List
- CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):
-no entry- - EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora
-no entry- - IUCN Red List of threatened species:
-no entry-
Similar and closely-related species
Scientific name
Graphium leonidas Fabricius 1793
Other names
Veined Swordtail, Common Graphium
Classification / Taxonomy / Family tree
- Kingdom: ANIMALIA
- Phylum: ARTHROPODA
- Class: INSECTA
- Order: LEPIDOPTERA
- Suborder: DITRYSIA
- Superfamily: PAPILIONOIDEA
- Family: PAPILIONIDAE
- Subfamilie: PAPILIONINAE
- Tribe: LEPTOCIRCINI
- Genus: GRAPHIUM
- Specific name: LEONIDAS
