Chimaera birdwing  (Ornithoptera chimaera)

The chimaera birdwing is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1) and is listed on Appendix II of CITES (2). This species has been reassessed and will soon be classified as Least Concern (LC) (3).

The upperside of the forewings of the male chimaera birdwing (Ornithoptera chimaera) are black with three streaks of yellowish-green scales. The hindwings are mainly yellow with an area of black and small patches of green on top of the yellow (4). There are two or more black dots within the yellow area. The underside is more colourful with less black areas. Females are dark brown, with several indistinct white spots on the forewings and a broad pale band on the hindwing enclosing a semicircular series of black spots. The furry body is primarily black and yellow. The caterpillar has a black body with a yellow ‘saddle’, covered with small, spiky bumps. The pupa is black mottled with pale yellowish-brown (3).

While some scientists believe there are three subspecies of the chimaera birdwing (Ornithoptera chimaera chimaera, O. c. charybdis, and O. c. flavidior), each occupying slightly different ranges (4) (5), others believe that O. c. charybdis, and O. c. flavidior are simply local forms (6).

The chimaera birdwing is restricted to montane areas of Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya, Indonesia (4).

This striking butterfly inhabits primary rainforest from 1,200 to 2,800 metres above sea level, but it is most frequently encountered between 1,600 and 2,000 metres (3). Adult chimaera birdwings are most commonly encountered flying over ridges several metres above the ground or feeding at the flowers of tall forest trees, occasionally in large numbers (5).

The adult chimaera birdwing feeds upon the nectar of hibiscus plants and African tulip trees, and groups of this species can be seen circling the tops of these trees. The female lays up to 20 eggs on the food plant and once hatched, the caterpillars consume the leaves of the plant before pupating. The pupa undergoes metamorphosis and emerges some weeks later as the adult butterfly (4).

Habitat loss is the main threat to the chimaera birdwing as forests are destroyed for agriculture, tree plantations, and urbanisation (1).

There is no targeted conservation action for this species and as long as the human population continues to grow in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, habitat loss will continue. The chimaera birdwing is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which serves to regulate the trade in the species or any of its parts by requiring export licences and producing quotas (2). While the collection of chimaera birdwings from the wild is not believed to pose a threat to the species, this butterfly is ranched in moderate numbers in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (3).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.