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Neptis harita harita Moore, 1875
| Family Name: | Nymphalidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Invertebrates (Butterfly and Moth) |
| Common Name: | Chocolate Sailor |
Name
Description
| Description | Dark brown above, with a distinctive crescent-shaped post-discal spot in space 3 of the forewings. Underside is lighter shade of brown with markings like the upperside. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | The butterfly frequents shrubbery at the end of forested areas within the nature reserves and is most frequently observed in the northern parts of the Central Catchment Reserves. Usually, individuals are only observed on bright sunny days. |
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| Habitats | Forest |
| Distribution | South-east Asia. |
| Nature Reserves | Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Loss of habitat and host plants. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | This species was not observed in Singapore by the early authors and was first seen in the early 1990s. It has been observed within the nature reserves (primarily in the northern parts of the island). |
| Conservation Notes | The continued preservation of its preferred habitats and its hitherto unknown host plant – which needs to be identified and conserved – would be critical to this species’ continued survival in Singapore. |
Status
| Conservation Status | Rare |
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| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Vulnerable (VU) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Khew, S.K. 2010. A field guide to the butterflies of Singapore. Singapore: Ink On Paper Communications Pte Ltd. 342pp |
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