Papilio godeffroyi

Papilio godeffroyi, the Godeffroy's swallowtail, (Samoan pepe ae) is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae.

Godeffroy's swallowtail
Papilio godeffroyi in Adalbert Seitz's The Macrolepidoptera of the World
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
Species:
P. godeffroyi
Binomial name
Papilio godeffroyi
Semper, 1866

Papilio godeffroyi was endemic to all of Samoa, but it is now found only on the island of Tutuila, where it is uncommon but widespread and restricted to undisturbed or near-undisturbed rainforest. It was last seen in Samoa in 1979.[1] This is only around 5% of its original range, and the species has recently been submitted to the IUCN Red List as critically endangered.

The larva feeds on Micromelum minutum (Rutaceae), locally called talafalu.

The species, named to honour Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy, is illustrated on a Samoan postage stamp issued on 14 December 2001.

In July 2023 the Samoa Conservation Society announced plans to reintroduce the butterfly to Samoa.[1]

See also

References
  1. Gutu Faasau (8 July 2023). "Extinct butterfly to be brought back". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  • Hopkins, G. 1927. Butterflies of Samoa and Some Neighboring Island-groups. Insects of Samoa. Part III. Fascicle 1. London: Bishop Museum Natural History, pp 1–64.


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