Zerynthia caucasica
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Zerynthia caucasica faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its limited Caucasus range, where agricultural expansion and urban development fragment the mountain meadows and forest edges it depends upon. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the elevation zones where both the butterfly and its Aristolochia host plants can survive. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances and collection pressure from butterfly enthusiasts.
Habitat
This butterfly inhabits mountain meadows, forest clearings, and scrubland edges at elevations between 800-2000 meters in the Caucasus Mountains. It requires areas where its specific Aristolochia host plants grow, typically in semi-open habitats with good sun exposure and protection from strong winds.
