Charaxes monteiri is a rare tropical butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, belonging to the Charaxinae subfamily or leafwing butterflies. It was described by Otto Staudinger in 1885. Description Charaxes monteiri presents an important sexual dimorphism, as do most species of the genus Charaxes. The wingspan is about in the males and about in the females. The male has a black-brown and blue wing, while the female has a brown wing with a wide white stripes on each side and a smaller one on top. Description in Seitz- Ch. monteiri Stgr. The male is very similar above to that of smaragdalis , only differing in having the distal blue spots in cellules 2—7 of the forewing much larger and sagittate and the transverse band on the hindwing anteriorly narrower and posteriorly completely united with the marginal line.Fore wing beneath light grey-blue at the base and before the distal margin. In the female the forewing is black-brown above, with broad white transverse band and two white subapical spots; the hindwing above umber-brown, towards the distal margin somewhat lighter and with 8 large, angled, blue-centred, black submarginal spots and a black marginal line, thickened between the veins. Only occurring on the island of St. Thome. Distribution and habitat This species is endemic to the island of São Tomé in the archipelago of São Tomé and Principe (Gulf of Guinea). It can be found in the mountain peaks of volcanic origin. Biology Adults mainly feed on rotting fruits. Taxonomy It is considered part of the Charaxes tiridates group. References Further reading Henning (S.), 1989 - The Charaxinae Butterflies of Africa, pp. 1–457 Turlin (B.), 2005-2007 - Butterflies of the World. Parts 22, 25, 28, 32, Charaxes 1-4 Victor Gurney Logan Van Someren, 1971 Revisional notes on African Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Part VII. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Entomology) 181-226. Zipcodezoo External links Thais Golden Map Charaxes montieri images at Consortium for the Barcode of Life Images from Naturhistorisches Museum Wien monteiri Butterflies described in 1885 Endemic fauna of São Tomé Island Butterflies of Africa Taxa named by Otto Staudinger Taxa named by Ernst Schatz