Leafwing Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

TRIBE ANAEINI

• 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)

• Leafwing Butterflies (Subfamily Charaxinae)

• Tribe Anaeini

​

Tribe Anaeini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies within the subfamily Charaxinae of the family Nymphalidae. Commonly known as the leafwings, members of this tribe are primarily distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. They are especially noted for their remarkable camouflage: the undersides of their wings closely resemble dead leaves, often complete with patterns resembling leaf veins, stems, and patches of decay. This adaptation provides excellent protection from predators when the butterflies rest with their wings closed.