Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 March 2026 | 18(3): 28600–28603

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9480.18.3.28600-28603

#9480 | Received 05 November 2024 | Final received 13 March 2026| Finally accepted 16 March 2026

 

 

First photographic record of Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Apaturinae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

 

 Roshan Upadhaya 1 , Rajesh Gopinath 2 , R. Mahesh 3  & Gaurav Joshi 4

 

1 School of Education, RIMT University Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab 147301, India.

2 OIKOS (Eco-Club), BMS Institute of Technology & Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560119, India.

3 Kattiparambu Madam, Thekumbhagam, Tripunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala 682301, India.

4 Parwati Niwas, Jagat Mangla Colony, Unchapul, Haldwani, District Nainital, Uttarakhand 263139, India.

1 roshanupadhaya14@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 dr.rajeshgopinathnair@gmail.com, 3 maheshgreen96@gmail.com,

4 gauravjoshi.0416@gmail.com

 

 

Editor: Anonymity requested.   Date of publication: 26 March 2026 (online & print)

 

Citation:  Upadhaya, R., R. Gopinath, R. Mahesh & G. Joshi (2026). First photographic record of Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Apaturinae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 18(3): 28600–28603. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9480.18.3.28600-28603  

  

Copyright: © Upadhaya et al. 2026. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: This study was self-funded, and a citizen science initiative by the authors. No fund has been received from any external agency for this study.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: The authors wish to acknowledge their sincere gratitude to the office of the conservator of forests & field director, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Miao, Arunachal Pradesh for providing the necessary logistical support. The authors are also thankful to Shri Autum Rumdo, Department of Forest, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh for his valuable support rendered during the field work. The authors are also indebted to Ms. Nisha Gopinath, WEB (Warriors of Environment and Biodiversity-Environment NPO, Bengaluru 90) for the support rendered in the image processing.

 

 

 

As showcased in Image 1, wedged between Patkai Ranges and Dapha Bum ridge of Mishmi Hills, Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve is located at 27.383–27.650° N and 96.250–96.966° E in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang District. It has a subtropical climate that varies with elevation ranging 200–4,571 m (Arunachal Online 2024).

The genus Chitoria Moore, 1896 consists of 10 species: sordida (Moore, 1866), ulupi (Dohertty, 1889), pallas (Leech, 1890), fasciola (Leech, 1890), subcaerulea (Leech, 1891), modesta (Oberthür, 1906), chrysolora (Fruhsttorffer, 1908), naga (Tytler, 1914), cooperi (Tytler, 1926), and leei (Lang, 2009). Of these 10 species, three of them—ulupi (Dohertty, 1889), sordida (Moore, 1866) and naga (Tytler, 1914)—are reported from India (Irungbam et al. 2016). Further, among these, the range of Chitoria sordida is known to extend from northeastern India (Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, and Manipur) to as far as northern Myanmar (Moore 1865; Tytler 1914; Antram 1924; Kehimkar 2008). The species is represented by two subspecies, namely Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) and Chitoria sordida vietnamica (Nguyen, 1979). While subspecies Chitoria sordida vietnamica is reported from northern Vietnam to eastern Laos and Thailand, at altitudes above 1,000 m, the subspecies Chitoria sordida sordida is reported from limited northeastern Indian states, Bhutan, and northern Myanmar at a much lower altitude of 500 m (Nguyen 1979; Masui 2004; Wangdi et al. 2012).

The Himalayan Sordid Emperor Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) is a brush-footed butterfly belonging to the genus Chitoria, subfamily Apaturinae, family Nymphalidae and the Apaturini tribe (Bingham 1907). It is reported to be found in the tropical forests of the north-eastern states of India and Bhutan (Bingham 1907; Irungbam et al. 2016). This species is legally protected under Schedule II, of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. For the geographical realm of India, verifiable scientific publications confirm the presence from Sikkim, Darjeeling (West Bengal), Assam, and Manipur (Tytler 1914; Masui 2004; Irungbam et al. 2016). These observations were documented at elevations less than 500 m (Kehimkar 2008; Irungbam et al. 2016). Sightings at these locations are apparent as Sikkim, West Bengal, and Assam share  borders with southern Bhutan (Irungbam et al. 2016). As per the web portal of Indian Foundation for Butterflies, the most recent observations are from West Sikkim during April 2018 and October 2021; and Rangli forest in West Bengal during July 2022 (Kunte et al. 2024).

Upon analysing the recent exploratory studies for Arunachal Pradesh, it can be affirmed that there are around 175 Nymphalidae species in this northeastern state of India. These noteworthy mentions are also supported with credible photographic evidence (Gogoi 2012; Sethy et al. 2014; Sondhi & Kunte 2016; Sharma & Goswami 2021; Roshan et al. 2023; Limbu & Achint 2024). None of these checklists mention Chitoria sordida sordida; hence, it can be confirmed that in conjunction with reliable historical notes, the taxon is reported for the first time from Arunachal Pradesh or Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve to-date (Tytler 1914; Masui 2004; Singh & Chib 2014). Also, Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve shares its border with China and Myanmar, and not Bhutan. Hence, this sighting is a remarkable discovery. The recording and critical identification of Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) is thereby an important addendum to the existing bio-inventory of both Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, and Arunachal Pradesh (Roshan et al. 2023; Upadhaya & Sheikh 2025). The taxonomic status is mentioned herewith.

 

Systematic Position

Class: Insecta Linnaeus, 1758

Order: Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758

Family: Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815

Subfamily: Apaturinae Boisduval, 1840

Genus: Chitoria Moore, 1896

Species: Chitoria sordida Moore, 1866

The sighting of the single individual of Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) was made on 16 October 2024 at Lunkai Nalla (27.493° N, 96.386° E) situated within the Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. As showcased in Image 2, Lunkai Nalla is basically a small stream powered by the Deban Nalla and Noa-Dihing River which runs turbulently through the forest.

The identification of Chitoria sordida sordida was done by consulting the pictorial field guides, catalogues, and identification keys in accordance with available literature and standard taxonomic keys (Evans 1927, 1932). The critical external morphological features analysed included the wing colouration, wingspan, and antennae structure. The female butterfly with wingspan of approximate 74 cm had broader oblique discal band on the forewing and a distinct rounded hindwing. While the antennae appeared brown, it was paler below the club. The head, thorax, and abdomen appeared brown and were paler beneath (Bingham 1907; Moore & Swinhoe 1890). No specimen was collected.

The single female individual was witnessed flying swiftly across the banks of the stream, before moving onto rocky surfaces for basking alongside other species such as, Rohana parisatis Westwood, 1851, Heliophorus epicles Godart, 1824, Mimathyma ambica Kollar, 1844, and Cigaritis lohita Horsfield, 1829. The single individual butterfly upon disturbance from other butterflies was found to intermittently hover around Celtis sinensis before returning to bask on the rocks (Image 3) with sufficient sunlight. The individual was also observed to momentarily shift on occasion, to wet rocks. It was also noticed that the species preferred the vicinity of the stream-sides and was avoiding even the gentle water patches and thick forest outgrowth on the sides of the stream.

 

Conclusion

The paper provides brief notes on the addition of Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) (Nymphalidae: Apaturinae) to lepidopteran fauna checklist for Arunachal Pradesh, India. The discovery of Chitoria sordida sordida (Moore, 1866) in Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India; throws up further exploratory opportunities for more probable sightings of the same species, as well those of others which are yet to be documented. This addendum to existing inventory is critical for deciphering the ecosystem dynamics, and for re-evaluating conservation strategies. This finding also hints at possibility of range extensions in the wake of climate change-mediated alterations in the environmental factors.

 

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