Altitudinal-melanism

Guides

• Parnassius

  Apollos, snow Apollos

  Parnassius is a genus of cold-adapted butterflies found in northern circumpolar regions and high-elevation montane habitats including the Alps and Himalayas. These butterflies exhibit altitudinal melanism—dark bodies and darkened wing bases that facilitate rapid solar warming in cold environments. Despite belonging to the swallowtail family Papilionidae, they lack the characteristic tail extensions. The genus comprises 38–47 disputed species and serves as an important model system for studying metapopulation dynamics, population genetics, and thermal ecology in the context of climate change.

  alpinearcticmontanecold-adaptedaltitudinal-melanismsphragisclimate-change-indicatorpoor-disperserunivoltinediapausethermoregulationmetapopulation-model