Abstract
The phylogeny and biogeography of the 13 species of Ornithoptera BOISDUVAL are discussed. O. goliath OBELTHUR is transferred to the tithonus group, whilst O. aesacus (NEY) is transferred to the victoriae group. The hypothesis that O. rothschildi KENRICK evolved from hybridization between ancestral O. tithonus de HAAN and O. chimaera (ROTHSCHILD) is discussed. O. euphorion (GRAY) and O. richmondia (GRAY) are suggested to be more closely related to O. croesus WALLACE than to O. priamus (LINNAEUS). The combinations O. paradisea arfakensis (JOICEY & NOAKES) and O. paradisea tarunggarensis (JOICEY & TALBOT) are maintained. O. akakeae KOBAYASHI & KOIWAYA is suggested to be a hybrid priamus × tithonus, not priamus × rothschildi as previously recorded. Other cases of interspecific hybridization are discussed, and notes on the species are included.
