Eumaeini

Eumaeini
Eumaeini collected by the Novara Expedition
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Subfamily:	Theclinae
Tribe:	Eumaeini Doubleday, 1847
Genera
More than 80, see text
Synonyms
Eumaeni Eumaeinae Strymonini

The Eumaeini are a tribe of gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae). They are typically placed in the subfamily Theclinae, but sometimes considered a separate subfamily Eumaeinae. Over 1,000 species are found in the Neotropical realm

As not all Theclinae have been assigned to tribes, the genus list is preliminary. However, much progress has been made in sorting out the profusion of synonymous taxa, and at least some degree of stability has been achieved in the early years of the 21st century. While there is no good phylogenetic hypothesis yet for the subfamily, groups of at least apparently related genera have been delimited. They are sometimes called "sections", but do not correspond to the taxonomic rank of section (the section in which the gossamer-winged butterflies are placed is the Cossina); if validated as clades and assigned taxonomic rank, they would qualify as subtribes.^[1]

There is still much work to be done, including the splitting of such notorious "wastebin taxa" as Callophrys, and the establishment of a robust phylogenetic and evolutionary scenario. Pending this, the groups are listed here in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, while genera are simply sorted alphabetically.^[1]

Wikispecies has information related to Eumaeini.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eumaeini.

• Brower, Andrew V.Z. (2008): Tree of Life Web Project – Eumaeini. Version of 2008-APR-24. Retrieved 2008-NOV-11.
• Savela, Markku (2008): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms: Theclinae. Version of 2008-SEP-05. Retrieved 2008-NOV-11.