Nymphalidae

The Nymphalidae is the largest family of butterflies, with about 6,000 species.  They live on all continents except Antarctica.  They are commonly known as nymphalids, brushfoots, or brush-footed butterflies.

 Characteristics 
Brushfoots get their name from their front pair of legs.  This pair of legs is reduced.  They do not have claws at the end.  Only the middle and last pair of legs are used for walking.Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson (2005).  Borror and Delong's Introduction to the Study of Insects (7th Edition).  Thomas Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA.   This is why they are called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies.

Many species are brightly colored and include popular species such as the emperors, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. Most hold their colourful wings flat when they are at rest. However, the underwings are often dull; in some species they look just like dead leaves, or are much paler. So when they raise their wings in the normal butterfly position, this cryptic effect helps the butterfly disappear into its surroundings.

Subfamilies
Apaturinae – Hackberry butterflies and Emperors
Biblidinae – Tropical Brushfoots
Calinaginae
Charaxinae – Leafwings
Cyrestinae
Danainae – Milkweed butterflies
Heliconiinae – Heliconiians and Fritillaries
Ithomiinae (sometimes placed in the subfamily Danainae as a tribe (a tribe is a ranking between family and genus))
Libytheinae – Snout butterflies
Limenitidinae – Admirals and Sisters
Morphinae – Morphos (sometimes placed in the subfamily Satyrinae as a tribe)
Nymphalinae – Buckeyes, Eggflies, Checkerspots, Crescents, Anglewings, and Ladies
Satyrinae – Satyrs and Browns.Gerardo Lamas (edited by) (2004).  Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera.  Checklist: Part4A. Hesperioidea-Papilionoidea.  Scientific Publishers, Inc., Gainesville, FL.  

Some example species
 Aglais urticae – Small Tortoiseshell
 Apatura iris – Purple Emperor
 Danaus plexippus – Monarch
 Hamadryas amphinome – Red Cracker
 Inachis io – Peacock
 Junonia coenia – Common Buckeye
 Libytheana carinenta – American Snout or Common Snout
 Limenitis archippus – Viceroy
 Morpho menelaus – Blue Morpho
 Nymphalis antiopa – Mourning Cloak or Camberwell Beauty
 Speyeria cybele – Great Spangled Fritillary
 Vanessa cardui – Painted Lady
 Vanessa atalanta – Red Admiral

Image gallery

References

Other websites

 Nymphalidae at Tree of Life