red-bodied and the mimics are black-bodied. Gynandromorphs This species has considerable genetic variability and is known to produce gynandromorphs, genetic aberrations which are part male and part female. Taxonomy Papilio polytes is the nominal member of the polytes species group. The clade members are: Papilio polytes Linnaeus, 1758 Papilio ambrax Boisduval, 1832 Papilio phestus Guérin-Méneville, 1830 The subspecies of Papilio polytes listed alphabetically are: P. p. alcindor Oberthür, 1879 – Buton, Salayer & Sulawesi P. p. alphenor Cramer, [1776] – Philippines P. p. javanus Felder, 1862 – Bali, Bangka, Biliton, Java & southern Sumatra P. p. latreilloides Yoshino, 2018 – N. Yunnan, N.E. Vietnam P. p. ledebouria Eschscholtz, 1821 – Philippines P. p. messius Fruhstorfer, 1909 – Lombok P. p. nicanor C. & R. Felder, 1865 – Bachan, Halmahera, Morotai, Obi & Ternate P. p. nikobarus C. Felder, 1862 – Nicobar Islands P. p. pasikrates Fruhstorfer, 1908 – Philippines (Batanes) & Taiwan P. p. perversus Rothschild, 1895 – Sangir & Talaud P. p. polycritos Fruhstorfer, 1902 – Banggai, Sula Is. P. p. polytes Linnaeus, 1758 – Indo-China, China & Taiwan P. p. romulus Cramer, [1775] – Nepal, India, Burma & Sri Lanka P. p. rubidimacula Talbot, 1932 – W.Yunnan P. p. sakiboso Yoshino, 2018 – W. Sichuan P. p. sotira Jordan, 1909 – Sumbawa P. p. steffi (Page & Treadaway, 2003) – Bongao, Sibutu & Tawitawi in the Philippines P. p. stichioides Evans, 1927 – South Andamans P. p. theseus Cramer, [1777] – Sumatra & Borneo P. p. timorensis C. & R. Felder, 1864 – Babar Islands, Wetar, Leti, & possibly Timor P. p. tucanus Jordan, 1909 – Tukangbesi Islands P. p. vigellius Fruhstorfer, 1909 – Bawean Mimicry In India, this butterfly is considered as the classic example of Batesian mimicry in which edible species resemble unpalatable butterflies in order to escape being eaten by predators. The populations of the mimicking morphs of the common Mormon are much smaller than that of their models - the common or crimson rose. This allows first time predators a much greater chance of preying upon the unpalatable model in the first instance and thus learning of their inedibility. Larger populations of mimics could result in the edible common Mormon mimics being sampled the first time by predators. If this should happen, the predator may not realise that butterflies of that colour and pattern are protected by the poisons they ingest; thus dramatically reducing