| Abstract: | The ecology and phylogeny of the Melitaeini butterflies have received considerable attention in the last few years. Several
publications have been based on research using molecular methods. Genital morphometry has already been published on two
sibling species but without any accompanying taxonomic revision of related species or their intraspecific taxonomy. In this
study the morphology of genitalia was analysed by landmark-based geometric morphometrics in males and by traditional
morphometrics in females. Based on these morphological characters, the whole M. phoebe group (subg. Cinclidia) was revised.
According to our results M. telona Fruhstorfer, 1908 is conspecific with M. ‘phoebe’ ornata Christoph, 1893. Thus, we consider
M. telona a junior synonym of M. ornata, and we propose new combinations: M. ornata ornata Christoph, 1893, M. ornata
telona Fruhstorfer, 1908, M. ornata amanica Rebel, 1917, M. ornata capreolaVarga, 1967, M. ornata emipunicaVerity, 1919, M.
ornata enoch Higgins, 1941, M. ornata kovacsi Varga, 1967, M. ornata nigrogygia Verity, 1938, M. ornata ogygia Fruhstorfer,
1907 and M. ornata totila Stauder, 1914 based on the rule of priority. The validity of the species status of M. punica and M.
scotosia was confirmed, whereas M. sibina and M. pseudosibina could not be separated from M. phoebe using morphometrics.
A new species from Iran (Zagros Mts.) was described as M. zagrosi sp. n. In addition, the whole geographical range of M.
ornata was reconsidered and some biogeographical connections were discussed. In M. ornata four morphotypes were found
based on genitalia: 1. ‘Western type’: including the Italian, Hungarian and SW Ukrainian populations; 2. ‘Eastern type’: with a
much extended distribution ranging from the Balkan Peninsula through Asia Minor to Kazakhstan; 3. ‘The Levant type’ (=M.
ornata telona comb. nov.); 4. ‘Northern Iranian type’ (Kopeth Dagh and Elburz Mts.). The distribution of these morphotypes
can be attributed to historic separation in distinct glacial refugia.
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