Papilionidae Latreille, 1802 - Swallowtail Butterflies

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Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Papilionidae

The swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae, consists of at least 550 species, many of which are large and colorful and recognizable even to non-specialists. While the majority of swallowtail species are found in tropical latitudes, representatives from the family can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and can be common in both tropical and temperate habitats. Swallowtail butterfly diversity is greatest in East and Southeast Asia, a region where many natural butterfly habitats are under extreme threat of destruction due to human activity. Some swallowtails, particularly representatives from the genus Parnassius, may fly at very high elevations. The birdwing butterflies (Troidini: Troides) of Australasia are the largest butterflies in the world. Collins and Morris (1985) provide an overview of the patterns of swallowtail diversity around the world. Dana Campbell edior Encyclopedia of Life, available from http://eol.org/data_objects/17424743 Accessed 29 Oct 2013