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Title: The evolution and genetics of sexually dimorphic ‘dual’ mimicry in the butterfly Elymnias hypermnestra
Sexual dimorphism is a major component of morphological variation across the tree of life, but the mechanisms underlying phenotypic differences between sexes of a single species are poorly understood. We examined the population genomics and biogeography of the common palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra , a dual mimic in which female wing colour patterns are either dark brown (melanic) or bright orange, mimicking toxic Euploea and Danaus species, respectively. As males always have a melanic wing colour pattern, this makes E. hypermnestra a fascinating model organism in which populations vary in sexual dimorphism. Population structure analysis revealed that there were three genetically distinct E. hypermnestra populations, which we further validated by creating a phylogenomic species tree and inferring historical barriers to gene flow. This species tree demonstrated that multiple lineages with orange females do not form a monophyletic group, and the same is true of clades with melanic females. We identified two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the colour patterning gene WntA that were significantly associated with the female colour pattern polymorphism, suggesting that this gene affects sexual dimorphism. Given WntA 's role in colour patterning across Nymphalidae, E. hypermnestra females demonstrate the repeatability of the evolution of sexual dimorphism.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1922624
PAR ID:
10390025
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume:
288
Issue:
1942
ISSN:
0962-8452
Page Range / eLocation ID:
20202192
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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