SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología ISSN: 0300-5267 [email protected] Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterología España Tropek, R.; Lestina, D.; Jansta, P.; Brattström, O.; Espeland, M.; Sáfián, Sz. First records of Hypolycaena anara Larsen, 1986, from Cameroon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología, vol. 43, núm. 170, junio, 2015, pp. 235-239 Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterología Madrid, España Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=45541421008 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative 235-239 First records of Hypoly 2/6/15 11:37 Página 235 SHILAP Revta. lepid.,43 (170), junio 2015: 235-239 eISSN: 2340-4078 ISSN: 0300-5267 First records of Hypolycaena anara Larsen, 1986 from Cameroon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) R. Tropek, D. Lesˇtina, P. Jansˇta, O. Brattström, M. Espeland & Sz. Sáfián Abstract The speciesHypolycaena anara Larsen, 1986, is reported as a new record for Cameroon, together with a description of two new montane localities. We also describe two previously unpublished localities of the species in Nigeria. Potential contribution of the discovery of this hilly-savannah butterfly in the Gulf of Guinea Highlands to the recent debate on the local submontane habitat history is discussed. KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, faunistics, submontane habitats, Cameroon. Primer registro deHypolycaena anaraLarsen, 1986 para Camerún (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Resumen Se registra como nueva cita para Camerún a Hypolycaena anara Larsen, 1986, junto con la descripción de dos nuevas localidades montanas. También se describen dos localidades no publicadas hasta ahora para la especie en Nigeria. Se discute la contribución potencial del descubrimiento de esta mariposa de la sabana en las zonas altas del Golfo de Guinea al reciente debate sobre la historia de los hábitats locales submontanos. PALABRAS CLAVE: Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, faunística, hábitat submontano, Camerún. Introduction Cameroon, lying along the boundary of Western and Central Africa and covering several biomes, from equatorial rainforests in the south to Sudan savannah in the north, has a tremendous importance for the biodiversity of butterflies and other organisms (KINGDON, 1990, LARSEN, 2005). Despite this, the butterfly fauna in Cameroon is still poorly known due to the lack of recent faunistic publications from the country. This report aims to partly fill this gap by presenting recent findings of a patchily distributed butterfly species recorded for the first time in the country. Hypolycaena anara Larsen, 1986 (Fig. 1) is a recently described butterfly of hilly-savannah landscapes and forest-savannah transition habitats (LARSEN, 2005). The species is known from southern Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau (Labé), Guinea (Parc National de Haut Niger), Cote d’Ivoire (Mt. Sangbé) and Nigeria (Anara Forest Reserve and Mubi) (LARSEN, 2005). LARSEN (2005) also expected its occurrence in northern Ghana and Senegal but it has not been confirmed so far (SÁFIÁN et al. 2012). According to current literature it has not previously been documented from Cameroon (cf. mainly ACKERY et al., 1995, LARSEN, 2005, SÁFIÁN et al., 2009, WILLIAMS, 2012). 235 235-239 First records of Hypoly 2/6/15 11:37 Página 236 R. TROPEK, D. LESˇTINA, P. JANSˇTA, O. BRATTSTRÖM, M. ESPELAND & SZ. SÁFIÁN Figure 1.– A male of Hypolycaena anara Larsen, 1986 in the Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria (Photo by Oskar Brattström). Methods and faunistic records During our visits to Cameroon in winter 2011/2012 (Robert Tropek, Dan Lesˇtina and Petr Jansˇta) and spring 2013 (Szabolcs Sáfián, Robert Tropek and Marianne Espeland), we visited several submontane localities roughly covering the whole ridge of the Gulf of Guinea Highlands. In a majority of the sites, we spent between two and four days surveying all present habitats and documenting all butterfly species that could be found there. Several specimens of Hypolycaena anara were recorded at two sites. Three specimens (1 1 and 2 0) were sampled on the slopes of the Tchabal Gandoua mountain (also known as Chappal Waddi, Tchabal Wadi, Tchabal Gangroua, Tchabel Ouade, and Gangirwal), Gotel Mountains, Nigeria (Taraba State) / Cameroon (Adamawa Province) border (N 7.028º, E 11.703º). The locality consists of a montane ridge covered by a mosaic of overgrazed, species-poor grassland with uncommon patches of scrubby vegetation along streams on the Cameroonian (SE) side, and patches of submontane forest with smaller non-intensive pastures on the Nigerian (NW) side (TROPEK et al., 2013). This area was surveyed from 14-I-2012 to 16-I-2012, covering about 1 km2 located predominately on the Cameroonian side of the border with an altitude ranging between 1750 and 2350 m a.s.l. Although the H. anara specimens were not identified in the field, it is highly probable that at least one of them was caught in Cameroon, as our sampling was overwhelmingly performed on the Cameroonian slopes. On the other hand, their occurrence on the Nigerian slopes is also possible, considering the presence of suitable habitats. This locality certainly has potential for further interesting faunistic records (e.g., Telchinia wigginsi occidentalis was recently found as new for Nigeria within the same locality (TROPEK et al., 2013). In spring 2013, we recorded 2 specimens (1 1 and 1 0) at Abongphen, Sabga, Northwest Province, Cameroon, an area covered by a mosaic of forest remnants, species-rich shrubby vegetation, extensive grassland pastures, and relatively small crop fields (for details on the whole area see TROPEK & KONVICKA, 2010). Both specimens were caught in a small forest remnant 236SHILAP Revta. lepid.,43 (170), junio 2015 235-239 First records of Hypoly 2/6/15 11:37 Página 237 FIRST RECORDS OF HYPOLYCAENA ANARALARSEN, 1986 FROM CAMEROON adjacent to the Mountain Misty School (N 6.0394º, E 10.2953º, 1900 m a.s.l.; 14-IV-2013) by Szabolcs Sáfián. Besides Cameroon, Oskar Brattström recorded the species in two so far unknown localities in Nigeria. In the Amurum Forest Reserve (N 9.874º, E 8.977º, 1320 m a.s.l.), an area of regenerating Guinea savannah woodland located on the Jos Plateau, several individuals (mostly 1) have been observed between 2005 and 2009 at most times during the dry season (IX-III). We have no recorded observations of the species at the very end of the dry season in April, and no visits to the area were ever made in the rainy season. The observations have all been from the numerous erosion gulleys within the wettest part of the reserve with fairly tall trees providing shade. Males were frequently seen mud-puddling along the streams in these gulleys. The species was also documented during two separate visits (XI-2007 and X-2008) to the Kurra Falls, located just at the southern edge of the Jos Plateau (N 9.4º, E 8.7º, 700-1150 m a.s.l., no detailed location of these observations were made). This habitat receives a high rainfall amount due to the steep incline of the plateau itself, so the vegetation is lusher than what is usually found in the region. Unfortunately we never recorded the exact number of specimens at any of these two sites, but at times when daily monitoring walks were made in the Amurum Forest Reserve we observed the species on about half of the days. In total we collected 6 11and 3 00as voucher specimens. Discussion With the presented records, we extend the species’ known distribution area almost 600 km to the south and add Cameroon as a new country of its occurrence. The finding of the two relatively outlying localities confirms a suspected patchy distribution pattern of the species in the whole distribution area (cf. LARSEN, 2005). The occurrence of the species at higher altitudes was already recognised (LARSEN, 2005), and both Cameroonian localities lie much higher than all previously known localities. Although no exact altitudes were published for the individual records, the highest point so far at any of the localities, the Labé area in Guinea in the mountainous area of Fouta Djalon, is about 1200 m, and some of the known records are from below 700 m as no higher points exist within the published localities (Anara Forest Reserve, Parc National de Haut Niger). Besides its patchy distribution, H. anara seems to be very rare even in the particular localities, as there are only a few specimens in collections (Larsen, pers. comm.). Following our records, it seems that the species could also be rare in the Cameroonian localities. Especially in the surroundings of Abongphen (the Kedjom Keku community area, see TROPEK & KONVICKA, 2010), Robert Tropek spent several months since 2007 and never met the species. On the other hand, OB found H. anara in higher numbers in the Amurum Forest Reserve, but they were strongly localized at a small gulley, a relatively wetter part of the savannah forest reserve. If such a strong patchiness is common also in other localities, we may expect many new records from so far unknown localities. The occurrence of such open-habitat species in the Gulf of Guinea Highlands has recently been discussed. In butterflies, an existence of endemics specialised for open submontane habitats was proposed as an indication of a historical persistence of habitat mosaics, which besides submontane forests also included drier open habitats (TROPEK & KONVICKA, 2010). In the two Cameroonian localities, other sympatric open-area (sub)montane species are for example Euchrysops sagba, Colias electo manengoubensis, Telchinia wigginsi occidentalis, and Issoria baumanni excelsior (LIBERT, 1992; TROPEK & KONVICKA, 2010; TROPEK et al., 2013). On the other hand, a relatively high proportion of birds specialized for open habitats in the Cameroonian mountains was explained by the recent degradation of submontane landscapes (HORˇÁK et al., 2010). The presence of this savannah butterfly in areas considered as previously covered by submontane forests could have a potential to enrich the recent debates. Nevertheless, H. anarahas a much broader distributional range and it is known from lower altitudes (in contrast SHILAP Revta. lepid.,43 (170), junio 2015 237 235-239 First records of Hypoly 2/6/15 11:37 Página 238 R. TROPEK, D. LESˇTINA, P. JANSˇTA, O. BRATTSTRÖM, M. ESPELAND & SZ. SÁFIÁN to the butterflies referred to in TROPEK & KONVICKA, 2010), therefore both hypotheses are relevant in the case of this species. Our findings confirm the necessity of further faunistic research of butterflies in the so far understudied Gulf of Guinea Highlands. We expect that other interesting species will be discovered in the area, and also that H. anarawill be gradually discovered in other Gulf of Guinea Highlands localities. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to Kevin Y. Njabo from IRTC, Yaoundé, and Seraphin Menzepoh, Ministère de la Recherche Scientifique et de I’Innovation, Yaoundé, for help with gaining all the research permits, to Torben Larsen for fruitful discussions and valuable comments, to Barbora Tesarova and Dagmar Lanikova for their kind reception at their temporary home in Abongphen, and to the local communities of the Gandoua village and Kedjom Kekum for enabling the surveys. A. P. Leventis’s Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI) kindly assisted our survey work at the Amurum Forest Reserve and Kurra Falls. Our surveys were partly funded by the National Geographic Society (Waitt Grant W163-11), the University of South Bohemia (GAJU 168/2013/P), the Czech Science Foundation (14-36098G), the Research Council of Norway (204308), the Putnam Expedition fund, the Helge Ax:son Johnson’s Foundation, the Längman’s Foundation for Culture and Science, the Royal Physiographic Society, the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, and grant no. SVV 260 087/2014. BIBLIOGRAPHY ACKERY, P. R, SMITH, C. R. & VANE-WRIGHT, R., 1995.– Carcasson’s African butterflies: An annotated catalogue of the Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea of the Afrotropical region: 816 pp. The Natural History Museum, London. HORˇÁK, D., SEDLÁCˇEK, O., REIF, J., RIEGERT, J. & PESˇATA, M., 2010.– When savannah encroaches on the forest: thresholds in bird-habitat associations in the Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon.– African Journal of Ecology,48: 822-827. KINGDON, J., 1990.– Island Africa: the Evolution of Africa’s Rare Animals and Plants: 287 pp. Collins, London. LARSEN, T. B., 2005.– Butterflies of West Africa: 865 pp. Apollo Books, Stenstrup. LIBERT, M., 1992.– Description de nouveaux Lycénides orophiles du Cameroun (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera).– Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France, 97: 321-332. NAZARI, V., LARSEN, T. B., LEES, D. C., BRATTSTRÖM, O., BOUYER, T., VAN DER POEL, G. & HEBERT, P. D. N., 2011.– Phylogenetic systematics of Colotis and associated genera (Lepidoptera: Pieridae): evolutionary and taxonomic implications.– Journal of Zoology Systematic and Evolution Research, 49: 204-215. SÁSIÁN, SZ., COLLINS, S. C., KORMOS, B., & SIKLÓSI, A., 2009.– African Butterfly Database version 1.0.–Available from http://www.abdb-africa.org (accessed 15-VIII-2013). SÁFIÁN SZ., LARSEN, T. B., COLLINS, S. C., CSONTOS, G. & ADUSE-POKU, K., 2009.– Results of the butterfly and moth inventory in Ghana I. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).– Folia Entomologica Hungarica, 73: 53-75. TROPEK, R., JANSTA, P. & LESTINA, D., 2013.– Acraea wigginsi occidentalis (Bethune-Baker, 1926), a new butterfly for Nigeria, with remarks on its habitat and known distribution (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).– SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología, 41(161): 163-165. TROPEK, R. & KONVICKA, M., 2010.– Forest Eternal? Endemic butterflies of the Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon, avoid close-canopy forest.– African Journal of Ecology,48:428-437. WILLIAMS, M. C., 2012.– Butterflies and skippers of the Afrotropical region (Papilionoidea and Hesperoidea).–Available from http://www.atbutterflies.com (accessed 15-VIII-2013). 238SHILAP Revta. lepid.,43 (170), junio 2015 235-239 First records of Hypoly 7/6/15 09:58 Página 239 FIRST RECORDS OF HYPOLYCAENA ANARALARSEN, 1986 FROM CAMEROON *R. T. R. T., D. L. Institute of Entomology Faculty of Science Biology Centre University of South Bohemia Czech Academy of Sciences Branisovska, 31 Branisovska, 31 CZ-37005 Ceske Budejovice CZ-37005 Ceske Budejovice REPÚBLICA CHECA / CZECH REPUBLIC REPÚBLICA CHECA / CZECH REPUBLIC E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] y / and P. J. Department of Environmental Science (Biogeography) Faculty of Science University of Basel Charles University St. Johanns-Vorstadt 10 Vinicna, 7 CH-4056 Basel CZ-12844 Prague SUIZA / SWITZERLAND REPÚBLICA CHECA / CZECH REPUBLIC E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] M. E. O. B. Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Zoology Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Cambridge University Harvard University Downing Street 26 Oxford Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ Cambridge, MA 02138 REINO UNIDO / UNITED KINGDOM EEUU / USA E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Sz. S. Institute of Silviculture and Forest Protection Faculty of Forestry University of West Hungary Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca, 4 H-9400 Sopron HUNGRÍA / HUNGARY E-mail: [email protected] *Autor para la correspondencia / Corresponding author (Recibido para publicación / Received for publication26-VIII-2013) (Revisado y aceptado / Revised and accepted15-V-2014) (Publicado / Published 30-VI-2015) SHILAP Revta. lepid.,43 (170), junio 2015 239