PANTOPORIA. By H. Fruhstorfer. 
823 
Tribus Limenitidi. 
Genus: Pantoporia Hbn. 
Distinguished from the following genus Limenitis only by very slight structural differences; the 
two first subcostal nervules are the same, only the third arises much farther from the end of the cell, almost 
at the apex of the wing and quite close to the fourth, whereas in Limenitis it arises midway between this and 
the end of the cell. Both the 2. and 3. nervules are at their point of origin bent downwards, as in Limenitis. 
On the forewing the cell may be open, or closed by a very fine lower discocellular, on hindwing invariably 
open; costal vein on hindwing going to the outer margin (difference from Neptis). Precostal very stout, for¬ 
ming a large outward curve, arising precisely at the origin of subcostal. In forefeet with very small tarsus, 
varying in length. Palpi and antennae as in Limenitis. Sexual organs entirely limenitoid, greatly deviating from 
those of the preceding genus by the absence of the distal spur of valve, but hardly to be distinguished 
from those of the Neotropical genus Adelpha. Uncus simple, rather long, contrasting with the Apaturidi 
(which are provided with an extremely short, rudimentary uncus), distally pointed, bent slightly downwards, 
scaphium composed of a very delicate membrane, hardly to be recognized in a photograph. Valve long, 
medially thicker, with a ventral protuberance, interiorly trough-shaped and, as in Adelpha, dorsally provided 
with a feeble tusk-shaped organ, varying in position according to the species and protruding either near the base 
or nearer the middle. Larva entirely different from that of the Neptidi, either short, stout, green with lateral 
red dots and red prolegs, covered on 1. 2. 4. 8. 10. and 12. segments with long, on the remaining segments 
with short spines ( Athyma ), or elongate, worm-shaped, green with red dorsal spot, all segments armed with 
long spines. Pupa with horns diverging, hammer-shaped ( Pantoporia ), or parallel and sharp-pointed {Athyma). 
In view of this difference in the appearance of the head of the pupa, one might be tempted to use it as 
a means of distinguishing between the specific groups. But if we examine the shape of the pupa of certain 
jnclian Limenitidi, f. i. Limenitis procris Cr. and L. calidasa Moore, we notice that whereas procris has the 
horns hammer-shapecl and blunt, they are in calidasa strongly curved and extremely sharp-pointed; and this 
notwithstanding the fact that both species are so closely allied that one almost could treat them as subspecies, 
the more so since calidasa Moore takes the place in Ceylon of the Continental, common and widely distributed 
procris. This proves beyond dispute the impractibility of using the horns on the head of the pupa as a disting¬ 
uishing mark between the Genera. Of still less use appears the presence or absence of the peculiar wreath of hair 
adorning the first abdominal segment in many species. This ring-shaped tuft of liairwhich in some Athymidi 
is very luxuriant and occasionally even extends over the second segment, is in Athyma pravara much smaller, 
and in perius almost unrecognizeable. In Pantoporia proper it is either completely absent, or at least lacking 
in <$, even if it is found in $. Thus we have to acknowledge the fact that there exists not a single practi¬ 
cable characteristic, in as much as neither the markings of the wings, nor neuration or secundary sexual features, 
not even the shape of larva or pupa offer any reliable help; and we are forced also in regard to this Nymphalid 
Group to acknowledge that nothing is constant save the inconstancy and transitoriness of appearance. Do¬ 
herty was led by his observations to the same result, when he stated (in Proc. Zool. Soc., 1891, p. 271) with classi¬ 
cal brevity: ‘Characteristic of all Nymphalicls proper (namely the Neptis-Euthalia-Limenitis groups) is the 
entire lack of true genera. Their structure is inconstant, and the different types merge imperceptibly into one 
another’. 
It is of course among the purely tropical species that we observe the maximum of differentiation, their 
Polymorphism and Polychroism rivalling the most extreme cases of variability known among the Nymphalids, 
whereas the species of the more temperate regions are much more constant. The following enumeration of the 
known species is headed by those which deviate farthest from Limenitis, and ends with those which retain 
most constantly the character of that group. Both extremes, however, meet in one point, in as much as in 
the Athymidi (in a strict sense) as well as in the more northern species of Pantoporia the sexes are approximately 
monomorphic, whereas in the remaining species a tendency towards sexual differentiation is evident . And also 
these extremes are connected by intermediate forms, in which the d'G preserve the Limenitis type, while the $$ 
imitate in their attire the markings of Neptis, a convergency which has misled previous authors to consider 
them as cases of Mimicry. 
' H The range of the Athymidi and Pantoporidi comprises the whole of South-Eastern Asia, the Continent 
as well as the tropical and subtropical Insular region. In Continental India they are found from the hot allu¬ 
vial plains to the Himalayas, without, however, crossing this mountan-chain, whereas in China they have ad¬ 
vanced as far as the Yangtse-Valley; the southern-most Liu Kiu Island Ishigaki as well as Formosa boast of 
one species each. Particularly favourable conditions for their development offer the Philippines, especially 
