British swallowtail split from European cousins much earlier than thought, study finds

Britain's endangered swallowtail butterfly has been a distinct subspecies for at least two hundred thousand years—far longer than scientists previously thought. The small, dark Norfolk butterfly was believed to have developed its distinctive form only after sea level changes isolated it from European populations roughly eight thousand years ago. But new genetic analysis shows the subspecies actually diverged from continental cousins over two hundred thousand years ago. According to The Guardian, this finding could reshape conservation strategies for the fragile population.

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