Oriental Meadow Brown
Hyponephele lupinus
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
39
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponephele_lupina
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Hyponephele
Oriental Meadow Brown belongs to the family Nymphalidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Oriental Meadow Brown faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its range. Climate change is altering the grassland ecosystems this species depends on, while overgrazing by livestock degrades the quality of remaining meadow habitats essential for breeding and larval development.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Natural grasslands, meadows, and steppe environments with diverse native grass species, typically at elevations between 500-2000m. The species requires areas with a mix of short and tall grasses that support its larval host plants and provide nectar sources for adults.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Oriental Meadow Brown faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its range. Climate change is altering the grassland ecosystems this species depends on, while overgrazing by livestock degrades the quality of remaining meadow habitats essential for breeding and larval development.
Agricultural intensification and conversion of grasslands
Climate change altering grassland ecosystems
Overgrazing by livestock degrading meadow quality
Urban development and habitat fragmentation
Loss of native grass species from invasive plants
Found in 39 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupinus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/oriental-meadow-brown