IUCN RED LIST
Established in 1964, The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, through criteria such as rate of decline, population size and area of geographic distribution as:
- Extinct (EX) – This species is no longer extant
- Extinct in the wild (EW) – Survives only in captivity, or through cultivation often outside native range
- Critically endangered (CR) – In an extremely critical state
- Endangered (EN) – Very high risk of extinction in the wild
- Vulnerable (VU) – At high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction
- Near Threatened (NT) – Close to being endangered in the near future
- Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant in the wild
- Data Deficient (DD) – Inadequate information to assess extinction risk
- Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been assessed
The butterfly has dark chocolate-brown to black wings covered with numerous white spots along the margins and body. The wings possess a soft velvety appearance. Both males and females are similar in colouration, though males may have specialized scent glands on the hindwings.
The Common Crow is a slow and graceful flyer, often gliding steadily among flowering plants. It is usually seen singly or in small groups and is active during daylight hours. Due to its toxic nature, it flies confidently with little fear of predators. Large seasonal congregations may sometimes occur during migration periods.
The Common Crow is known for local and seasonal migrations in several parts of India and Southeast Asia. Large groups may travel considerable distances in search of suitable breeding habitats and food resources.
Breeding occurs throughout the year, particularly during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Females lay eggs singly on host plants belonging mainly to the Apocynaceae family. Caterpillars feed extensively before pupating into a jade-green chrysalis suspended beneath leaves or stems.
The species stores toxic chemicals from larval host plants, making adults unpalatable to predators. Slow and steady flight acts as a warning display, signalling toxicity. Distinct wing patterns contribute to Müllerian mimicry with other toxic butterflies. Caterpillars possess bright warning colouration to discourage predation.
Adult Common Crows feed mainly on nectar from flowering plants such as lantana, jasmine, ixora, and milkweed flowers. Caterpillars feed on toxic host plants including oleander and milkweed species, from which they derive protective chemical compounds.
It inhabits tropical forests, gardens, urban parks, mangroves, agricultural lands, and forest edges. The species thrives in warm and humid environments and is commonly seen in both natural and human-modified habitats.
