Papilio ophidicephalus, the emperor swallowtail, original watercolour art

Papilio ophidicephalus, commonly known as the emperor swallowtail, is a large and elegant butterfly found across sub-Saharan Africa. It’s part of the swallowtail family, a group known for their strong flight and distinctive tail-like wing extensions.

Its wingspan typically reaches about 9–12 cm. The wings are mostly dark—black to deep brown—decorated with pale cream or yellow bands that create a bold, high-contrast pattern. The hindwings have short “tails,” giving it the classic swallowtail silhouette.

This butterfly inhabits forests, woodland edges, and savanna regions, where it is active during the day. It is a powerful flier, often gliding and swooping above vegetation. Adults feed on nectar from flowers, while males are known to gather at moist ground to absorb minerals.

The caterpillars feed on plants in the citrus family. Like other swallowtails, the larvae possess an osmeterium, a retractable organ that emits a strong odor to deter predators.

The emperor swallowtail also has an interesting defensive feature: the underside of its wings can resemble a snake’s head when viewed from certain angles, potentially confusing predators.

Though not the largest swallowtail, Papilio ophidicephalus stands out for its bold pattern, agility in flight, and clever combination of visual and chemical defenses.

This artwork is unique and totally hand-drawn with archival quality watercolour paints and ink on the 100% cotton paper by ARCHES.

Archival quality 100% cotton 300g/m² ARCHES paper 

Size 31x41 cm | 12x16 in