taxonID	type	description	language	source
7A3D49713F1F893AFF00F99A89B0FDE8.taxon	description	Figures 1 (upperside) — 2 (underside): 1, 2, 3.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1F893AFF00F99A89B0FDE8.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: male, East Kazakhstan, Saur Mts., Tas Mt., 2600 - 2850 m, 25 - 30.06.2003, K. Dovgailo & N. Rubin leg. Paratypes: 4 males, 6 females, East Kazakhstan, Saur Mts., Tas Mt., 2600 − 2850 m, 25 - 30.06.2003, K. Dovgailo & N. Rubin leg.; 1 male, 1 female, same loc., 2800 m, 21.06. − 3.07.2003, K. Dovgailo & N. Rubin leg.; 6 males, 1 female, East Kazakhstan, Saur Mts., Karagaily R. (upper stream), Shakpaktas Mt., 2400 − 2700 m, 10 - 15.06.2006, K. Dovgailo leg.; 3 males, 2 females, same loc., N. Rubin & Yu. Sobolevskaya leg.; 2 males, 2 females, Eastern Kazakhstan, Saur Mts, Tas Mt. (northern slope), 47 ° 16 ʹN; 85 ° 04 ʹ, H- 2230 ‒ 2400 m, 21 ‒ 23.06.2018, R. Yakovlev, V. Doroshkin, V. Rudoj & A. Naydenov leg. (RYB).	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1F893AFF00F99A89B0FDE8.taxon	description	Description Holotype FW length 19 mm, male paratypes 18 − 20 mm, female paratypes 18 − 20 mm. Antennae, palpi, body coloration and hairs seem to have no taxonomically valuable characters, but obviously darker than in other subspecies. Male Wings pale from above, dark brownish-reddish, with grey sputtering, black pattern not extended (corresponding to that of specimens from Sarym-Sakty Mts.). Fringe very narrow, not pronounced, slightly light between wide darkened portions at veins. FW from upside basally dark, first spot in cell rounded, two next spots elongated, even rectangular. Spots of discal row fused into one broken line. Postdiscal series of black spots complete, spot 4 magnified. Series of light slightly extended spots along wing edge between triangular submarginal black spots and blackened wing edge. HW from upside: basally and discally darkened, light triangular spot noticeable only in cell. Postdiscal band color – that of background, grey-brown, black spots as a rule reduced, usually only two small dark dots developed in cubital area. FW from underside: pattern on upper part more or less pronounced, darkened. HW from underside dim brown, darkened pattern narrowing, postdiscal band red-brown with light inner edge and light stroke cubitally, almost always without black spots. Male genitalia. Uncus thickened, short, curve at its distal end poorly expressed (unlike in known subspecies), process on tip of valva with thickening and developed teeth, dorsal process of valva sharply extended with fan-like bundle of long hairs. Aedeagus of medium size. Female Wings noticeably wider, general coloring similar to that of male (dimmer color), black pattern statistically less developed (light spots at root of HW extended on upper side, band on underside of HW lighter).	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1F893AFF00F99A89B0FDE8.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis New subspecies is close to ssp. pallida (the reduced spots in the postdiscal band, the round discal spot on upper side of FW, the medium-sized aedeagus), but significantly darker, wherein the black pattern is not extended. The general darkening of color is not the result of a simple change in altitude – significantly more severe altitudes and harsh conditions are known for closely related subspecies. Moreover, in the adjacent territory of Altai there is a clear cline: butterflies become most brightly colored to the south of Southern Altai – in areas that were bordering on the range of the Saur subspecies during the Ice Age, when the inhabited zones were much lower and obviously adjacent. The same picture is observed in Clossiana frigga, where the difference between the South Altai red C. f. famula Churkin et Tuzov, 2005 and Saur C. f. annae Suschkin, 1906 is even sharper than between the reddish form of pallida and the new subspecies. It should be noted that many high- and mid-mountain species of Papilionoidea on Saur are represented by endemic subspecies: P. phoebus sauricus Lukhtanov, 1999, Pieris euorientis sauron Yakovlev, 2004, Euphydryas iduna jacobsoni Yakovlev, 2011, Mellicta menetriesi saurica Yakovlev, 2007, Agriades glandon rubini Churkin, 2007, Neolycaena submontana saurica Zhdanko, 1998, Glaucopsyche argali arkhar Lukhtanov, 1990; in addition, there are a number of endemic species of Siberian kinship: Erebia haberhaueri Staudinger, 1881, E. sibirica Staudinger, 1881, Oeneis fulla (Eversmann, 1851), O. mulla Staudinger, 1881, Сupido tusovi Lukhtanov, 1994 (Lukhtanov 1984, 1990, 1999; Yakovlev 2004, 2007, 2011; Churkin 2005 a, b; Yakovlev & Guskova 2012; Rubin & Yakovlev 2013). All this indicates the long-term isolation of the Saur Mountains from the Altai-Sayan mountain region. С. freija in Altai is a common background species – it can be assumed that contacts between the Altai and Saur populations were broken for a shorter period, unlike for C. frigga, which corresponds to a lower level of accumulated differences. However, the reverse cline is present, as are the differences in the male genitalia (the short and thick uncus, which requires confirmation). Considering the current isolation of the Saur macropopulation, the identification of the subspecies seems necessary. Note that butterflies of the new subspecies do not appear in the known publications and are extremely rare in collections – only in the book of Toropov & Zhdanko (2015) the authors published the beautiful photographs of specimens from Chagan-Obo river (Saur, 2700 m), completely identical to those described here. We did not include these specimens in the type series because their state of preservation and actual location are unknown.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1F893AFF00F99A89B0FDE8.taxon	distribution	Distribution and biology Saur Range, no data from Tarbagatai Mts. Stony tundra, flies together with Parnassius phoebus sauricus Lukhtanov, 1999, Boloria altaica ssp., Euphidryas iduna jacobsoni Yakovlev, 2011, and Clossiana frigga annae (Rubin & Yakovlev 2013). Not numerous.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1F893AFF00F99A89B0FDE8.taxon	etymology	Etymology Antipodes (from Greek) – feet facing each other, that is residents of opposite territories.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1A8936FF00FD4A8858FC39.taxon	description	Figures 1 (upperside) — 2 (underside): 10, 11, 12, 13.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1A8936FF00FD4A8858FC39.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: male, Mongolia, 30 km N Ulan-Bator, Sanzain am (valley), 21.05.2019, 1600 − 1700 m, T. Odbayar leg. Paratypes: 39 males, 19 females, same data, T. Odbayar leg.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1A8936FF00FD4A8858FC39.taxon	description	Description Holotype FW length 19 mm, male paratypes 18 − 20 mm, female paratypes 18 − 22 mm. Antennae, palpi, body coloration and hairs seem to have no taxonomically valuable characters, although lighter and brighter. Male Wings light-orange on upperside, bright, with sharp contrasting black pattern, typical of species. FW: basal darkening developed, dense and narrow, spot in cell thickened, elongated with rounded edges, sometimes rounded (similar to pallida), other spots with sharp contours, elongated. Spots of discal row fused together. Postdiscal row of spots complete, three upper spots of smaller size. Apex lightened, costal darkening between rows hardly visible, as a rule. Submarginal spots thin, V-shaped, or as thin triangles, space between them and wind edge shaped as continuous line of background color. Wing edge light, with narrow dark line at veins, fringe white, long, also darkened at veins (only rarely with thin black line going along all wing, fringe color here not changing). HW on upperside of the same color as FW, darkened at root, lightened in median portion. Postdiscal spots vary in size and number, but usually pronounced, square or slightly rounded. Marginal pattern like that on FW. FW underside light, pattern expressed. HW underside: brown color remaining only basally, basic color of underside – reddish, light, sharp dark narrow strokes along median band, partially reduced. Postdiscal band spots reddish (not brown), wide reddish stripes along veins, except for light stroke in area of M 3 - Cu 2. Marginal pattern also with reddish tint, submarginal light spots often narrowing like those of pallida, but with reddish tint. Male genitalia (3 specimens studied): in general, gracile in comparison with those of other subspecies, uncus variable, usually distinctly shorter and thinner, dorsal process of valvae apically extended, with fan of long hairs. Valva without sharp angle between basal and distal portions but in the same time sharply narrowing into long thin prong curved inside, almost not extended at apex, only with 1 - 2 tiny dorsal teeth. Aedeagus of medium size, noticeably bigger than in butterflies from Khangai Mts., but not that big as in those from Transbaikalia and Yakutia. Female Wings noticeably wider, general color similar to that of male, only slighter lighter, spots of postdiscal row in general more developed.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1A8936FF00FD4A8858FC39.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis The new subspecies sharply differ from any known form of C. freija, first of all, in the wings color and pronounced fringe, and also in the valvae structure (without the sharp outer angle, characteristic of the pallida-calais complex, but with the valva very narrow distally, without the noticeable extension at the tip – this shape is rarely found in the nominative subspecies and is completely uncharacteristic for the species as a whole). From the upperside, the butterflies are bright, with sharp pattern not fused into whole, and not reticulated, unlike ssp. freija and ssp. pallida. The indicated difference in the valva and uncus characters can signify that the subspecies status is not final for the new taxon. Nevertheless, the forms similar to the classical freija, are found, though rarely (Figs 1 − 2: 13).	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1A8936FF00FD4A8858FC39.taxon	distribution	Distribution and biology Known only from the type locality situated at the remote western edges of Khentei Mts. Flies at clearings with bushes of Betula nana L. and in the larch forest (Larix sp.) together with Callophris rubi L. and Lycaena helle Den. & Schif. One specimen originated from Bogdo Mt. (southern Ulan-Bator) definitely belonging to this taxon is figured in “ Butterflies of Mongolia ” (Tshikolovets et al, 2009 a: XLIII: 20). At the same time, typical freija (form jakutensis) is figured in Igarashi’s book on the fig. 112, numbers 1 − 2, “ Bayanchandman ” and “ Ulan-Bator ” (Igarashi et al. 2001) – we can not explain this weird fact, but it might be a simple misprint.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1A8936FF00FD4A8858FC39.taxon	etymology	Etymology The subspecies is named after Batchimeg Bayar, the wife of our friend and well known Mongolian biologist Odbayar Tserenpil (Ulan-Bator).	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
7A3D49713F1A8936FF00FD4A8858FC39.taxon	discussion	Discussion The following subspecies can be distinguished in the study area: 1) pallida – Altai, Mongolian Altai, Western Sayans (partly), SW Tuva, Southern Khangai (populations from the Southern Altai and, apparently, the western macroslope of the Mongolian Altai are characterized by a more saturated reddish tint of the background color); 2) calais – Eastern Sayans, Eastern Tuva; for Western Sayans additional confirmation is required; 3) freija – from Northern Europe to the Sea of Okhotsk, Magadan and Transbaikalia, in the eastern part of the area – the form jakutensis with basally darkened wings in the females; 4) batchimeg – Central Mongolia, vicinity of Ulaanbaatar; 5) antipodes – Eastern Kazakhstan, Saur ridge. The examination of genitalia shows the subspecies differences with unusual variability, which requires serious study. Most likely, we should not be talking about species statuses, but about the fact that we are currently observing the hybridization of several taxa that have sharply diverged in characters, but have retained the possibility of mutual crossing. Acknowledgments Many thanks to V. Tuzov (Darwin State Museum, Moscow), K. Kolesnichenko (Moscow State University) and N. Rubin (Grodno) for the advices and assistance during the work. Separate gratitude to B. Khramov (S. - Petersburg) and S. Kovalev (Dolgoprudnyi, Moscow reg.) for the help with material. We are grateful to Anna Ustjuzhanina (Tomsk, Russia) for language improvements. The reported study was funded by state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Project FZMW- 2023 - 0006 “ Endemic, local and invasive arthropods (Arthropoda) of the mountains of South Siberia and Central Asia: a unique gene pool of a biodiversity hotspot ”).	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): Short review of Clossiana freija (Thunberg, 1791) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia with the description of two new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 71: 101-111, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.71.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.71.9
