Roma Is., Indonesia; 1/96 ssp canopinus male | Cooktown, N Queensland, Australia ssp canopus female (photo size is reduced - size comparable to above specimens) |
![]() |
![]() |
Sumbawa, Indonesia May 1996 ssp. umbrosus | Sumba, Nov 1986 ssp sumbanus |
![]() |
![]() |
Flores Jan 1980 ssp modestia | Wetar Is., Indonesia; 1/56 ssp hypsiclides |
![]() |
|
Bali Feb 2009 ssp buisi |
Lesser Sunda Islands and Australia. Generally rather local,
and some subspecies are considered rather rare. One subspecies hypsiclides
(from Vanuatu, New Hebrides) has been regarded by some as a full species
- oddly it is also described (and shown above) from Wetar island in the
Lesser Sunda group of Indonesia. Such a disparate range is not logical,
and the New Hebrides form is undoubtedly separate from the Wetar form.
Twelve or more subspecies, as each tiny island seems to have a distinct
population; many are exceedingly variable, and can be found in both tailed
and tail-less forms. This would be a good species for genetic study.