Riodininae

True Metalmarks

Tribe Guides

Emesidini
Riodinini(metalmark butterflies)

Riodininae is the largest within the Riodinidae, comprising the majority of in the family. The subfamily contains ten recognized tribes: Befrostiini, Calydnini, Dianesiini, Emesidini, Eurybiini, Helicopini, Nymphidiini, Riodinini, Sertaniini, and Symmachiini. Members are distinguished by forewing venation patterns, with some tribes possessing five forewing radial and others four. The subfamily has undergone recent phylogenetic revision based on morphological and molecular data.

Apodemia mormo langei by (c) USFWS Endangered Species, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Apodemia walkeri by (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block. Used under a CC-BY license.

Calephelis rawsoni by (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Riodininae: //ˌraɪ.oʊˈdɪn.əˌniː//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Riodininae can be distinguished from other Riodinidae by tribal-level characters including forewing radial venation (four or five ), and body , and male and female genitalia structure. The subfamily includes both the five forewing radial-veined tribes (Eurybiini, Mesosemiini, Nymphidiini, Riodinini, Symmachiini) and four forewing radial-veined tribes. -level identification requires examination of wing pattern, genitalia, and in some cases early stage morphology.

Images

Habitat

vary considerably across the diverse tribes and . One documented , Eucorna sanarita, occupies montane forest in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot of Southeastern Brazil. General habitat preferences across the are not established.

Distribution

The has broad distribution across the Neotropical region, with documented from Mexico through Central and South America. Specific distribution records include: Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil (Eucorna sanarita, with 14 known sites); predictive models suggest additional potential sites for some species. Comprehensive geographic range data for the subfamily as a whole is not available.

Similar Taxa

EuselasiinaeOther within Riodinidae; distinguished by different morphological characters and tribal composition
NemeobiinaeOther within Riodinidae; contains fewer and different tribal structure

More Details

Tribal Classification

Riodininae contains ten tribes: Befrostiini (Grishin, 2019), Calydnini (Seraphim, Freitas & Kaminski, 2018), Dianesiini (Seraphim, Freitas & Kaminski, 2018), Emesidini (Seraphim, Freitas & Kaminski, 2018), Eurybiini (Reuter, 1896), Helicopini (Reuter 1897), Nymphidiini (Bates, 1859), Riodinini (Grote, 1895), Sertaniini (Seraphim, Freitas & Kaminski, 2018), and Symmachiini (Bates, 1859). Recent phylogenetic work has revised relationships among the five forewing radial-veined tribes.

Phylogenetic Relationships

Molecular and morphological studies support the following hypothesis for basal clades: Mesosemiini + (Eurybiini + remainder of Riodininae). Mesosemiini has been redefined to include previously unplaced , with subdivision into Mesosemiina and Napaeina (new subtr. n.).