Oxeoschistus puerta puerta (Westwood)

(Figs. 27, 28)

Pronophila puerta Westwood, [1851]: 358. Syntype in BMNH [examined]. Oxeoschistus puerta (Westwood); Butler, 1867: 268.

Geographic range: Species: CC, SP, northern part of the EC; Subspecies: CC (SL northern slopes).

Altitudinal range: 1400–1800 m.

Remarks: This is the only representative of the genus Oxeoschistus in the CC. Its relations with closely related taxa are a debated issue, and some authors consider O. puerta as conspecific with O. simplex or O. submaculatus (Lamas et al., 2004) . It was, however, discovered recently (Huertas, pers. comm.) that O. puerta and O. simplex are apparently locally sympatric in the north-eastern part of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera, where O. puerta occurs at slightly lower elevation. O. puerta is the one of the least known Pronophilina in the CC. Despite being large and conspicuous, it is extremely rarely observed.

Material examined: ARAGUA: 1 female: Colonia Tovar, vía Puerto Maya, 1850 m, 02.V.2004, M. Costa leg., MCC; 1 male: same data, TWP; 1 male: Rancho Grande, Portachuelo, 1100 m, IX.1968, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 male: carretera Maracay-Choroní, La Cumbre, 1550 m, VI.1970, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 female: same data but 1500 m, VII.1970, FRR; 1 female: same data but 1240 m, IX.1976, FRR; 1 female: same data but 1450 m, IX.1980, FRR.