Occasionally one stumbles across particularly remarkable specimens during the most basic tasks in Natural History museums 🏛️
In this case, I want to talk you about this 'Baronia brevicornis' (MNCN_Ent 378709), a butterfly considered a #living #fossil 🦋🦴
In this case, I want to talk you about this 'Baronia brevicornis' (MNCN_Ent 378709), a butterfly considered a #living #fossil 🦋🦴
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Thus, it is said to be ‘the oldest living butterfly’: https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0265:LFOLBA]2.0.CO;2
That would explain its striking resemblance to one of the oldest known fossil genera: #Praepapilio 🦋
http://hdl.handle.net/2152/30083
In fact, this species is currently listed as #Endangered 🔴 in the IUCN.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T2594A119581233.en
If you want to know more about it and Modolell's remarkable life, I gave a talk about his precious collection in https://www.youtube.com/live/6P6vQ-hXWmY?si=rchz-LS-0iWR88rw