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Glite Dictionary
Apatura iris

Apatura iris

9.9
A large European butterfly with males that have shiny purple wings
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Apatura iris
  • The male Apatura iris displays striking iridescent purple markings on its wings.

Examples

  • Many butterfly enthusiasts travel to forests to observe the elusive Apatura iris in its natural habitat.

  • The caterpillar of the Apatura iris feeds primarily on the leaves of willows.

  • The Apatura iris is a stunning butterfly found in European forests.

  • Have you ever seen an Apatura iris in the wild?

  • The male Apatura iris displays striking iridescent purple markings on its wings.

  • Many butterfly enthusiasts travel to forests to observe the elusive Apatura iris in its natural habitat.

  • The Apatura iris is a stunning butterfly found in European forests.

Synonyms

purple emperor
vsApatura iris
  • UK
9.5

A large European butterfly with shiny purple wings

is the formal scientific name used in classification

Surface Forms

Apatura iris singular
Apatura irises plural

Morphology

Apatura + iris

This is a scientific binomial combining the genus name Apatura (a group of butterflies) with a species epithet, so a learner who knows the constituents would infer it names a butterfly in the Apatura genus. However, the specific common name and details (the "purple emperor" and the male's purple shading) are not derivable from the epithet 'iris' or from the binomial form alone, so the full meaning is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Apatura iris may come from old Greek: iris was the word for 'rainbow', and the male butterfly's wings shine a bright purple like a tiny rainbow, so the name points to its colourful look and to the common name 'purple emperor'.