Abstract:
The species-level classification of the “celia clade” of the nymphalid butterfly genus Pseudodebis Forster, 1964, is revised
as part of ongoing revisionary work on this genus. The “celia clade” contains three species, of which two, Pseudodebis dar-
renthroopi Nakahara & Willmott, n. sp. and P. tigrillo Nakahara & Willmott, n. sp., are described and named herein based
on morphology and molecular data. Consequently, we increase the described species diversity of Pseudodebis to 13, with
a remarkable six species occurring in the trans-Andean region. We discuss five specific epithets associated with the clade
and designate a neotype for Papilio celia Cramer, 1780, and lectotype for Taygetis keneza Butler, 1869, based on the same
specimen, thus retaining the status of the former name as a senior objective synonym. We also provide a brief historical
review for Papilio phorcys Fabricius, 1793, an enigmatic name currently synonymized under Papilio celia. Nevertheless,
we were unable to locate the syntype(s) for this name and the identity of Papilio phorcys remains uncertain, so we retain the
current synonymy as a parsimonious approach.
