Papilio buddha
Papilio buddha, commonly known as the Malabar banded peacock, is a species of swallowtail butterfly in the family Papilionidae, endemic to the forested regions of the Western Ghats mountain range in southern India.[1] First described by John Obadiah Westwood in 1872, it is characterized by its large size and distinctive wing pattern, featuring broad black wings with iridescent green scaling, ochreous bands, and peacock-like submarginal ocelli on the hindwings, distinguishing it from similar species like Papilio palinurus. The butterfly's wingspan typically measures 107–155 mm, making it one of the more prominent swallowtails in its habitat.[2] This species inhabits moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests at elevations ranging from sea level to about 1,500 meters, primarily in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa.[3] Its larvae feed on the host plant Zanthoxylum rhetsa (family Rutaceae), a thorny shrub common in these ecosystems, while adults nectar on various flowering plants and are often observed in forest clearings or along streams during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.[4] P. buddha exhibits typical papilionid behavior, including mud-puddling for minerals and territorial displays by males, contributing to its role in pollination within the biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats.[3] Although locally common and not currently assessed as globally threatened, Papilio buddha is legally protected under Schedule II of India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, due to potential risks from habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and collection pressures in this rapidly developing region.[3] It was designated as the state butterfly of Kerala in 2018 in recognition of its cultural and ecological significance, highlighting ongoing conservation efforts to preserve the unique lepidopteran diversity of the Western Ghats.[5]Taxonomy and Classification
Etymology and History
Papilio buddha was first described by the English entomologist John Obadiah Westwood in 1872, in the article "Descriptions of some new Papilionidae" published in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London (volume 2, pages 85–110, plate 3, figure 1).[6] The description was based on specimens from the Malabar coast in southern India, marking the initial scientific recognition of this swallowtail butterfly endemic to the Western Ghats.[7] The specific epithet "buddha" may allude to the Buddha, possibly due to the species' iridescent wing markings that feature prominent eyespots reminiscent of those on a peacock's tail. Upon its description, the species was classified within the genus Papilio and the family Papilionidae, a placement that has persisted without alteration to the binomial nomenclature Papilio buddha Westwood, 1872.[8] Historical records of P. buddha date to the 19th century, with early collections from the Western Ghats documented in entomological literature of the era, highlighting its restricted distribution in the southern Western Ghats from southern Maharashtra through Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.[9] These sightings, primarily from moist forest habitats, contributed to initial understandings of the species' endemism in the region, with no subspecies recognized.[3] The butterfly's striking appearance, similar in pattern to the Southeast Asian Papilio palinurus, further distinguished it in early taxonomic accounts.[9]Phylogenetic Position
Papilio buddha belongs to the subfamily Papilioninae within the family Papilionidae and is classified under the subgenus Achillides, specifically the palinurus species group. This placement is supported by comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analyses that reconstruct the genus Papilio using multi-locus datasets, confirming its position with strong nodal support (posterior probability = 1). A recent 2023 phylogeny further validates this classification.[10] The species forms part of the monophyletic subgenus Achillides, which diversified around 17.1 million years ago in the middle Miocene (95% confidence interval: 11.45–26.88 Ma), with an ancestral area in the Indo-Australian region (Wallacea and Australasia), reflecting biogeographic patterns tied to Southeast Asian and Indian vicariance events.[10][11] P. buddha exhibits close phylogenetic relationships to species such as Papilio palinurus (from Southeast Asia) and Papilio daedalus, sharing a common ancestry within the palinurus group of Achillides, as evidenced by shared morphological traits and molecular sequence data. Papilio crino (from India) is also placed within Achillides but in a distinct lineage.[10] These relations highlight evolutionary patterns in wing coloration and structure among Old World Papilio taxa. Recent taxonomic reviews, including updated species lists from phylogenetic frameworks, recognize no subspecies for P. buddha, treating it as a monotypic entity endemic to the Western Ghats.[3]Physical Description
Adult Morphology
The adult Papilio buddha has a wingspan ranging from 107 to 155 mm, with females typically larger than males while sharing identical wing patterns.The upperside of the wings is predominantly black, marked by iridescent blue-green bands across the discal region and peacock-like submarginal ocelli on the hindwings; these discal bands are notably broader than those in closely related species such as Papilio palinurus, to which P. buddha bears a general resemblance in overall form. The forewings show similar iridescent bands but lack prominent eyespots. The underside features silvery-white bordered lunules and ochraceous markings that enhance camouflage against natural backgrounds.
The body comprises a robust thorax, elongated abdomen, and characteristic tail-like extensions on the hindwings, typical of the Papilionidae family; sexual dimorphism manifests primarily in size differences rather than coloration or patterning. The striking iridescence results from structural coloration in the wing scales, where multilayer reflectors of chitin and air create interference effects producing the blue-green sheen.