Data from: A snow-dwelling tropical butterfly? An unprecedented discovery of a new genus of the Pedaliodes clade in an extreme, high-altitude Andean environment (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

<p><span><span>A new genus of satyrine butterflies, </span></span><span><span><em>Nivaliodes </em></span></span><span><span><strong>gen. nov.</strong></span></span><span><span>, is described for three species, all new &ndash; </span></span><span><span><em>N. negrobueno </em></span></span><span><span><strong>sp. nov.</strong></span></span><span><span>,</span></span><span><span><em>N. virococha</em></span></span><span> </span><span><span><strong>sp. nov.</strong></span></span><span><span> and </span></span><span><span><em>N. puriq </em></span></span><span><span><strong>sp. nov.</strong></span></span><span><span> (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) &ndash; with a support of molecular data and adult morphology. Target enrichment-based phylogeny indicates </span></span><span><span><em>Nivaliodes </em></span></span><span><span><strong>gen. nov.</strong></span></span><span><span> is sister to the genus </span></span><span><span><em>Pherepedaliodes</em></span></span><span><span>within an extremely diverse </span></span><span><span><em>Pedaliodes</em></span></span><span><span> clade of the predominantly Andean subtribe Pronophilina</span></span><span><span><em>. </em></span></span><span><span>Whereas an overwhelming majority of species of this group occur in tropical montane forests, </span></span><span><span><em>N. negrobueno </em></span></span><span><span><strong>sp. nov.</strong></span></span><span><span> was discovered in a central Peruvian desert puna at some 4600-4800 m asl., the highest elevation reported for any species of the Pronophilina. Individuals were observed overflying rocky slopes and resting directly on snow-covered surfaces, which is an exceptionally unusual behaviour among butterflies. The other two species of the new genus were found at lower elevations, some 3300-4200 m asl. at the timberline and in puna grassland. </span></span></p>