Giant Blue Swallowtail vs Blood-red Cymothoe
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Blue Swallowtail | Blood-red Cymothoe |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Papilio zalmoxis | Cymothoe sangaris |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 140-170 mm wingspan | 55-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | West and Central Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, DRC, Ghana) | Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DRC) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Giant Blue Swallowtail
One of the largest and most spectacular butterflies in Africa, with a wingspan exceeding 150 mm. The wings are brilliant pale blue with dark margins. It is a powerful flier that inhabits the canopy of primary rainforests.
Did You Know?
This magnificent butterfly rarely descends below 20 meters, spending most of its life soaring through the forest canopy.
Blood-red Cymothoe
A strikingly sexually dimorphic butterfly where males are vivid blood-red and females are brown with white bands. It is one of the most recognizable butterflies in Central African forests. Flight is relatively slow and gliding.
Did You Know?
The blood-red coloration of males is so vivid that early European explorers initially mistook them for a different species from the brown females.