Butterflies of Silent Valley National Park and its environs, Western Ghats of Kerala, India

The butterfly fauna of Silent Valley National Park (SVNP) and its buffer zone in Kerala is discussed. Of the 335 species listed from Western Ghats (WG) 326 Kerala, 269 were recorded inside boundaries core SVNP, while an additional 21 confirmed making a total 290 as aggregate for SVNP environs. This included 19 Papilionidae, 26 Pieridae, 85 Nymphalidae, one Riodinidae, 82 Lycaenidae, 77 Hesperiidae. Thirty-one strictly endemic to 63 schedules WPA 1972, IUCN Red Lists. region harbours 89% all butterflies (326 species), 87% those seen (335 species). About 11% Ghats. adjoining regions have 86% WG. also holds 91% under known 90% Thus, environs are richest with respect butterflies.