Distribution
As of 2005, 552 extant species have been identified which are distributed across the tropical and temperate regions of all continents except Antarctica. Various species occur from sea level to high mountains, as in the case of most species of Parnassius. The majority of swallowtail species and greatest diversity in form and lifestyle are found in the tropics and subtropical regions between 20°N and 20°S, particularly Southeast Asia, and between 20°N and 40°N in East Asia. Only 12 species are found in Europe and only one species, Papilio machaon is found in the British Isles. North America records 40 species which include tropical species and Parnassius.
The northernmost swallowtail is the Arctic Apollo (Parnassius arcticus) which is found in the Arctic Circle in northeastern Yakutia, at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level. In the Himalayas, various Apollo species such as Parnassius epaphus, besides others, have been recorded to occur up to an altitude of 6,000 meters above sea level.
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