Abstract
THE famous African butterfly Papilio dardanus Brown is highly polymorphic in the female, while the males are monomorphic and non-mimetic1. The species has been divided taxonomically into a number of sub-species, mainly on the basis of quantitative variation in wing pattern of the males2–4. Several of these races are isolated from all others on islands and mountainous areas. However, five named races are not geographically isolated from their neighbours and the male wing pattern, since it tends to show a clinal distribution, is unsatisfactory for delimiting their exact distributions. The western race (dardanus) might be thought to be more distinct than the others, because of the morphology of the male genitalia4. In the eastern races there is a long spine on the inner surface of the valve; the western race usually has no spine (Fig. 1). In a narrow zone north of Lake Victoria where the races meet, both types are found, together with intermediates with very short spines, which in west Africa are known only as rarities.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ford, E. B., Trans. Roy. Ent. Soc., 85, 435 (1936).
Carpenter, G. D. H., Proc. Roy. Ent. Soc., B, 16, 55 (1947).
Carpenter, G. D. H., Proc. Roy. Ent. Soc., B, 17, 11 (1948).
Jordan, K., Z. wiss. Zool., 83, 151 (1905).
Clarke, C. A., and Sheppard, P. M., Genetics, 45, 439 (1960).
Evans, D. A. P., Manley, K. A., and McKusick, V. A., Brit. Med. J., i, 485 (1960).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
TURNER, J., CLARKE, C. & SHEPPARD, P. Genetics of a Difference in the Male Genitalia of East and West African Stocks of Papilio dardanus (Lep.). Nature 191, 935–936 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/191935a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/191935a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.