Nymphalidae

This is the most species-rich butterfly family, comprising more than 7,000 species (DeVries 1987). Their common name is four-footed butterflies, because most species have the first pair of legs reduced. Nymphalidae contains very large and colourful species, like the Morphos. Bright colours are mainly revealed when the butterflies rest and their wings can be seen from above. The underside of the wings is often unconspicuous and of camouflage colours.

Several clades and subfamilies are recognized, many taxa are still unresolved (see Wahlberg et al. 2003; Freitas & Brown 2004).

About 2433 species occur in the Neotropical region, distributed in the subfamilies: Libytheinae, Danainae, Ithomiinae, Morphinae, Satyrinae, Charaxinae, Biblidinae, Apaturinae, Nymphalinae, Limenitidinae, Heliconiinae (Lamas 2004).