263. Neptis clinia susruta (The Clear Sailor)

Number: 263

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Neptis clinia susruta Moore, 1872

Common name(s): The Clear Sailor

Photography location: Ba Vi (Hanoi)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 31 species - and 40 taxa - of Neptis have been recorded in Vietnam. This genus features many lookalikes species which are difficult to identify with a high level of confidence from just field shots.

Neptis species recorded in Vietnam (classified according to upperwings color pattern): 

-Ground color black/dull brown & white markings: clinia*, sappho*, hylas*, yerburii*, soma*, nata*, leucoporos*, sankara*, cartica*, maghada*, nashona*, philyra*, philyroides*, dejeani*, genulfa 

-Ground color black/dull brown & yellow/orange markings: miah*, zaida*, ananta*, namba*, armandia*, antilope*, radha*, narayana subsp. dubernardi*, manasa (subsp. narcissina* + mientrunga),  nemorum*, transita, cydippe*, themis* 

-Ground color smoky chocolate brown: harita*, ilira, pseudovikasi* 

(* recorded in northern Vietnam)

Neptis clinia susruta, from Ba Vi (January 2016)
Note the little white spot at the base of HW space 3 (lower margin of the white discal band) & the elongated triangular end-spot

Another specimen from Ba Vi (February 2016)

 Voucher specimen, upperside (Ba Vi, February 2017)

Same specimen, underside 

202. Neptis harita harita (The Dingiest Sailor)

Number: 202

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Neptis harita harita Moore, 1875

Common name(s): The Dingiest Sailor

Photography location: Xuan Son N.P. (Phu Tho Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 31 species - and 40 taxa - of Neptis have been recorded in Vietnam. This is a difficult genus with many very similar-looking species. Among the chocolate brown Neptis, N. harita is the commonest - recorded throughout the country.

Upperside smoky chocolate brown  with paler brown markings. Note the crescent-shaped spot in space 2 of FW, the hindwing band divided & chain-like.

Some other similar-looking species include N. ilira cindia (recorded from C. Vietnam), N. pseudovikasi (N. Vietnam: Lao Cai), N. omeroda (not recorded in Vietnam).

Voucher specimen, upperside (Ba Vi, April 2017)

Same specimen, underside

15. Neptis hylas (The Common Sailer)

Number: 15

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Neptis hylas (Linnaeus,1758)

Common name(s): The Common Sailer

Photography locations: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.), Ba Vi (Hanoi)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 31 species - and 40 taxa - of Neptis have been recorded in Vietnam. This is a difficult genus with many very similar-looking species.

Neptis hylas, Tam Dao foothills, August 2013
Forewing discoidal streak clavate (club shaped), apically truncate, subapically either notched or sometimes indistinctly divided; triangular spot beyond broad, well defined, acute at apex, but not elongate

Voucher specimen, upperside (Ba Vi, April 2017)

Same specimen, underside

Underside rich orange brown, white markings as on the upperside, but broader and defined in black