Discover the Frugivorous Butterflies of Amazonas!

Join Us on an Incredible Journey

Exploring the rich diversity of butterfly species in the Conservation Units (UCs) of Amazonas, our mission is simple yet impactful: to enhance knowledge about these butterflies and share it with locals, tourists, and UC managers alike.

Partnering for Biodiversity

In collaboration with the National Biodiversity Monitoring Program (Monitora), we studied butterfly species across six key UCs:

  • Jaú National Park
  • Arapixi Extractive Reserve
  • Nascentes do Lago Jari National Park
  • Campos Amazônicos National Park
  • Mapinguari National Park
  • Uatumã Biological Reserve
Map of Amazonas and the UCs
Map of Amazonas showing the location of the conservation units.

Collected butterflies were analyzed in Manaus by experts and added to the collections of the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) and the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), now key references for these UCs.

Building Knowledge for Environmental Impact

Accurate butterfly identification from campaigns in 2022 and 2023 has enriched ICMBio’s data, aiding future monitoring and supporting studies on Amazonian butterfly diversity. These guides:

  • Serve as educational tools for schools
  • Enhance ecotourism in Amazonas
  • Support community engagement in conservation

Research Challenges and Ongoing Work

While we identified common butterfly species, some complex species still need detailed taxonomic work. Using the online Butterflies of America guide and consulting taxonomists, we flagged certain species for further molecular and morphological analysis.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to:

  • Leila Shirai for assembling kits, organizing collections, and managing specimens
  • Taxonomists Keith Willmott, Thamara Zacca, Mirna Casagrande, Julián Salazar-E, Mônica Piovesan, and Mario Marín for reviewing identifications
  • FAPEAM for funding

We hope these guides inspire new researchers and serve as a valuable resource for local monitors, who play a key role in biodiversity conservation.

Highlights of the Conservation Units (UCs) Studied

Jaú National Park

Located in the Rio Negro basin, Jaú National Park spans 2,272,000 hectares, protecting diverse environments:

  • Igapó forests (seasonally flooded blackwater areas)
  • White-sand forests (campina and campinarana)

Uatumã Biological Reserve

Covering 930,000 hectares, REBIO is rich in biodiversity across Uatumã and Jatapu river basins, with diverse landscapes of dense tropical forests and white-sand ecosystems.

Arapixi Extractive Reserve

Created in 2006, this 133,710-hectare reserve in the “Arc of Deforestation” is vital for:

  • Dense and open alluvial rainforests
  • Local communities practicing sustainable extractivism, like nut and rubber harvesting

Campos Amazônicos National Park

Home to one of the Amazon’s largest savannah enclaves (49% of its 386,000 hectares), Campos Amazônicos conserves a unique range of ecosystems, from savannah to dense rainforest.

Mapinguari National Park

Spanning 1.78 million hectares in the Purus-Madeira interfluve, Mapinguari protects diverse habitats, including savannah and dense rainforests. It’s a haven for rare species and a prime conservation site.

Nascentes do Lago Jari National Park

Located near the BR-319 highway, this 812,141-hectare park protects ecologically important ecosystems in the Purus-Madeira region, supporting diverse flora and fauna.

The Amazonas Landscape

The state of Amazonas, Brazil’s largest, is a natural mosaic of biodiversity-rich ecosystems, from upland forests and flooded igapó forests to white-sand forests and savannahs. This guide, focused on frugivorous butterflies in these environments, contributes to a deeper understanding of Amazonian diversity and its importance to conservation efforts.