120. Charaxes bernardus hierax (The Common Tawny Rajah)

Number: 120

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Charaxiinae

Species: Charaxes bernardus hierax (C. & R. Felder, [1867])

Common name(s): The Common Tawny Rajah

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

The Charaxinae are a group of large, robust Nymphalids characterised by their rapid and powerful flight, falcate apexes, and a habit of feeding at dung and carrion. They are represented in Africa by Charaxes, Euxanthe and Palla; in the neotropics by Consul, Memphis, Prepona and Agrias; and in the Oriental and Australian regions by Polyura and Charaxes.

Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016) listed 6 Charaxes species in Vietnam viz. solon, bernardus, marmax, aristogiton, kahruba & harmodius.

A brief encounter in the forest of Cuc Phuong N.P.

 The smell, and possibly the color, of my motorbike were irresistible to this Charaxes bernardus

A dead specimen, found at Cuc Phuong N.P. also, showing a better view of the upperwings than the shot above