Kallima inachus

The Orange Oakleaf or Dead Leaf (Kallima inachus) is a nymphalid butterfly found in tropical Asia from India to Japan. With wings closed, it closely resembles a dry leaf with dark veins and is a spectacular example of camouflage.

Description

The dry and wet season butterflies differ in colouration.

The dry-season form

The fore wing discoidal cell, interspace 1a, 1 to near apex, basal half of 2, and extreme bases of 3 and 4 rich violet-blue, the borders of the discocellulars and the interspaces of veins 2, 3 and 4 are black, spread diffusely outwards in interspaces 1a and 1. A very broad oblique discal orange band from costa to apices of interspaces 1 and 2, this orange band is sprinkled with bluish black scales ; apical third of wing velvety purpurescent black; a hyaline transverse spot near middle of interspace 2, and a subtriangular similar small preapical spot. Hind wing more uniform violescent blue ; the costal margin and apex very broadly brown, somewhat densely irrorated with dusky violescent black scales ; dorsal margin brown ; a ridge of long brownish hairs along vein 1 spreading on to the dorsal margin. Fore and hind wings crossed by a subterminal dusky zigzag line commencing about the middle of interspace 3 in the fore wing, and most conspicuous on the hind wing.Underside very closely resembles a dry leaf ; ground-colour very variable, but usually some shade of brown (rusty, greyish, and yellowish browns being the most common), always with scattered dark dots...
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