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Common Morpho
Morpho helenor
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumArthropoda (Arthropods)
- ClassInsecta (Insects)
- OrderLepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- FamilyNymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- GenusMorpho (Morphos)
- SpeciesMorpho helenor (Common Morpho)
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%
6 Verified sightings at Santos
1,103 In all 37 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
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About the Common Morpho
Morpho helenor, also known as the Helenor blue morpho or common blue morpho, is a Neotropical butterfly found throughout Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina. It is a species group that may or may not be several species. Many subspecies have been described.
The larvae of subspecies Morpho helenor achillaena have been recorded as feeding on Genipa americana, Inga, Machaerium, Platymiscium, Wisteria, Trifolium, Arachis and Robinia. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Morpho in Santos
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santos | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | San José | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Caracas | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | |
| 4 | San Salvador | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | |
| 5 | Rio de Janeiro | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 6 | São Paulo | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 7 | Campinas | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 8 | Belo Horizonte | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 9 | Medellín | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Closest Relatives at Santos
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Common Morpho in Santos?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Morpho sighting in Santos on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 16th most-seen of the 20 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Common Morpho in Santos?
September
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Morpho in Santos on a given day, against under 5% in January–June, August and November, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Common Morpho?
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Morpho sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Santos the best place to see a Common Morpho?
Yes
Of the 9 cities where we can rate Common Morpho sightings, Santos has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come San José (Costa Rica, about 10%) and Caracas (Venezuela, about 10%).
Which relatives of the Common Morpho live in Santos?
Same family: Nymphalidae
The closest relatives of the Common Morpho that you can see in Santos (family Nymphalidae, Brush-footed Butterflies) are Themisto Amberwing (about 20%), Dark Owl-Butterfly (about 10%) and Gulf Fritillary (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Common Morpho sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Morpho is recorded against all the insects logged in Santos (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
