| Ornithoptera | |
|---|---|
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| Ornithoptera spp. (top left: maleO. priamus caelestis; top right: maleO. euphorion; bottom left: maleO. goliath atlas; bottom right: femaleO. goliath atlas) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Tribe: | Troidini |
| Genus: | Ornithoptera Boisduval, 1832 |
| Type species | |
| Papilio priamus | |
Ornithoptera is a genus ofbirdwing butterflies found in the northern portion of theAustralasian realm, east ofWeber's line; theMoluccas,New Guinea, theSolomon Islands, and northeastern Australia; except forOrnithoptera richmondia, which may be found in far northeasternNew South Wales,Australia, therefore the southernmost distribution of birdwings. This genus includes the two largest butterfly species in the world, theQueen Alexandra's birdwing and theGoliath birdwing.Ornithoptera species are highly prized by insect collectors because they are rare, large, and considered exceptionally beautiful.[2][3]
…Ornithoptera, the largest, the most perfect, and the most beautiful of butterflies.
Is it, I think, the finest of theOrnithoptera, and consequentlythe finest butterfly in the world?