80 
Records of the Australian Museum (2009) Vol. 61 
Fig. 9. Gnathothlibus samoaensis n.sp. holotype male, lateral view showing colouration of abdominal segments. 
patch below vein 1A+2A. The unicolorous band enclosing 
the stigma is about 5 mm wide along vein CuA,. Forewing 
underside as in Fig. 6; ground colour burnt orange basad, 
distally overlaid heavily with darker olive-brown scales with 
usually two distinct dark, irregular, parallel post median lines 
from costa to veins CuAj or CuA 2 and a single distinct, dark, 
irregular, submarginal line from apex to tornus; all three lines 
are usually well developed, particularly the submarginal line 
but may be reduced in some specimens. 
Hindwing upperside as in Fig. 5; ground colour orange; 
a dark, slightly variable, well-developed terminal band from 
apex to tornus at least 2 mm wide, slightly thinner near apex 
with most specimens exhibiting some dark scaling along 
inner margin from tornus; inner edge of terminal band clearly 
spikes basally along vein 1A+2A. Hindwing underside as in 
Fig. 6; ground colour orange-brown, very heavily speckled 
with dark brown and olive scales; marginal area darker from 
apex to tornus; dark, mostly straight, median line, thickest 
at costa, curving distad from costa to vein RS and usually 
reaching vein CuA 2 but does not touch distal edge of cell; a 
much less prominent, small, parallel, dark post median line 
to vein M 1? well developed in many specimens, vestigial in 
some specimens. 
Male genitalia as in Fig. 16. Uncus, in lateral view, long, 
slender, parallel sided for the basal half of its length, slightly 
but clearly arched, distal end swollen, distal margin clearly 
convex with rounded, slightly pointed dorsal crest; small, 
sharply pointed ventral tooth at distal margin; gnathos, in 
lateral view, thin, almost straight, dorsal surface tapering to a 
small, slightly upturned point at distal margin, ventral surface 
slightly concave; valva dorsal margin straight proximally 
then clearly upwardly convex, distal margin rounded, ventral 
margin slightly convex; sacculus well developed; harpe 
robust, distal end smooth surfaced and spine-like, upturned; 
aedeagus in lateral view, with distal end tapered to a bluntly 
rounded apex with backward directed dorsal fishhook-like 
barb, ventrally with a small, similar barb, a little proximad 
of dorsal barb. 
Female. (Figs 7,8). Forewing length 43.6-46 mm, mean 
44.7 mm (n = 4). Head, thorax and tegulae dark brown. 
Abdomen above dark grey-brown. Thin lateral creamy- 
yellow stripe from base of antenna to posterior edge of 
tegulae above hindwings. Thorax below reddish-brown 
suffused ventrally with mauve hair scales; abdomen ventrally 
mauve-brown, each segment with orange-brown hair scales 
on posterior margin with four well-developed lateral white 
spots with small black centres. Fore-tibiae covered in short 
cream hair scales with some dark scales on distal posterior 
edge; fore-tarsi without hair scales. 
Forewing upperside as in Fig. 7; ground colour and 
pattern in shades of darkish brown, lacking olive green tinge 
of male but with a lustrous appearance in fresh specimens, 
particularly on the median and marginal areas of wing; small 
dark brown stigma with light centre at end of discal cell; a 
distinct lighter, lustrous brown band, enclosing the stigma, 
runs from costa to inner margin, marginal band from apex 
to tornus, with inner irregular line, of same colour. Forewing 
underside as in Fig. 8; ground colour reddish-brown, 
marginal band from apex to tornus mauve-brown and often 
overlaid distinctly with olive scales, a dark brown, irregular, 
submarginal line runs from apex to tornus; two variable 
dark brown parallel post median lines run from costa, often 
reaching vein CuA 2 . 
Hindwing upperside as in male but dark brown terminal 
band much broader, with inner margin slightly irregular 
and suffused with orange scales, this dark band spikes dis¬ 
tinctly basad along vein 1A+2A. Hindwing underside as in 
Fig. 8; ground colour slightly more mauve than forewing 
and heavily speckled along costa with dark scales; slightly 
variable yellowish streak, mostly along proximal side of 
vein 1A+2A. 
Etymology. The specific name samoaensis is derived from 
the Pacific Island nation of Samoa, formally Western Samoa, 
the only recorded locality for the species. 
Distribution. At present G. samoaensis is only recorded 
from the island of Upolu, Samoa, but being a common 
species it would certainly be found on the nearby larger 
island of Savai’i, just 22 km west of Upolu. 
