-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

-Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

-Fritillaries and Longwings (Subfamily Heliconiinae)

-Longwings (Tribe Heliconiini)​

-Longwings and Heliconians (Genus Heliconius)

-Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)

-​Heliconius charithonia ssp. vazquezae

Heliconius charithonia, commonly known as the Zebra Longwing, is a distinctive butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is easily recognized by its elongated wings marked with bold black-and-yellow stripes, giving it a striking zebra-like appearance. Unlike many butterflies, the Zebra Longwing has a slow, graceful, gliding flight, often drifting through forests, gardens, and open areas. Its long, narrow wings and contrasting pattern make it highly visible. The underside closely resembles the upper side, maintaining the same striped pattern. This species is found in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America, inhabiting forests, edges, and disturbed habitats. It is especially notable for its behaviour—adults often roost communally at night, gathering in small groups on branches. A unique feature of Heliconius butterflies is their ability to feed on pollen as well as nectar, which provides additional nutrients and allows them to live longer than most butterflies.