Who discovered the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing butterfly?

Trevor
13/10/2012

British naturalist Albert Meek was the first European to spot the giant Queen Alexandra's Birdwing butterfly in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. One day, Meek discovered a butterfly flying at a high altitude, and promptly brought it down with a shotgun. The adventurer dissected the butterfly and sent it to England.

 

English Zoologist Lord Walter Rothschild named the animal "Ornithoptera alexandrae," in honor of Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII.

 

It's the world's largest butterfly, with females attaining wingspans in excess of 25 centimeters (10 inches).

Tags: butterflies
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