titan

9.  Ssp. titan Grose-Smith, 1900⁶⁾ [♂] [♀: goliath, (Rothschild, 1904)²⁰⁾]

= goliath, (Rothschild, 1904)²⁰⁾ [♀] (Aroa River, PNG)

= huebneri (Rumbucher, 1973)²³⁾ [♂, ♀] (Goodenough Is., PNG)

= kikoriensis Szent-Ivany, 1975²⁶⁾ [♂, ♀] (Ogomobu, Kikori River, PNG)

(Distribution) [Map 58]

PNG [WP] Star Mts. (Telefomin), [WHP] Schrader Range, Mt. Hagen, [ChP] Chimbu Valley, Haia Mission, [MgP] Yandera, Bundi, [EHP] Goroka, [GP] Kikori River basin (Ogomobu), Herzok Mts., Snake River basin, [MoP] Aseki, Gumi, Watut River basin, Mt. Sam Sam, Bulolo, Manki Ridge, Wau, Waria River basin, Garaina, [NP] Owen Stanley Range, Kokoda, Popondetta, Hydrographers Range, Afore, Kwarue, Toma, Tufi, [CeP] Aroa River basin (Boidunna), Vanapa River basin, Port Moresby, Sogeri, Buchanan (near Kapogere), [MBP] Milne Bay area, Goodenough Is., (type locality: S.-E. New Guinea).

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

The author, Grose-Smith (1900), states at the end of the paper that “This magnificent butterfly was sent to me in a collection stated to be from New Guinea (collector unknown to me). The rest of the collection is in very bad condition. I conjecture, however, from the series of species contained in it that the insects may have been captured towards the southern end of British New Guinea. The absence of the stigmatic brand on FW separates it from the group of O. priamus, and the shape and neuration of the wings from the Schoenbergia group. I have compared it with the drawing of the neuration of S. goliath, as figured by Mr. Rippon, and find little, if any, difference; if the true locality of S. goliath is New Guinea, it is very probable that my butterflies is the male of that species. A new genus should be created for this species.” Subspecies name titan is the name of a giant in Greek mythology.

(Characteristics)

The most southeast distributed subspecies.

(Spotted pattern)

♂: Resembles ssp. supremus but differs somewhat in the lighter shading of the black scales on the cubital band of FW, and the higher rate of black spots appearing in the center of green discal spots on HW. The abdomen is yellow without body hairs as in ssp. supremus.

♀: The ground color of wings is dark brown or black. It is easy to distinguish it from other subspecies by its FW without pale spot or with vestigial spots. (Individuals with slightly larger spots may not be distinguishable from ssp. supremus). Both HW pale band and the abdomen resemble those of ssp. supremus.

(Variation)

Same variation as ssp. supremus is known.

♂-f. goudreaulti Deslise & Sclavo, 2008³⁾: (➡procus )

♂-f. gottsi Deslisle & Sclavo, 2008³⁾: [FW discoloration] Iridescent green coloration  becoming gradually blue towards the apex, instead of being typical monochrome green.

♂-f. malummaculata Deslisle & Sclavo, 2015⁴⁾: [FW discoloration] Green or golden and orange bicolouration subapically and submarginally. (➡supremus )

♂-f. sanguismaculata Deslisle & Sclavo, 2015⁴⁾: (➡samson )