![Photo: tamadabae6.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae6.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
![Photo: tamadabae3.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae3.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
This injured female gave us a privileged glimpse of the upperside.
Field notes and information
Formerly subspecies of the Canary Grayling H. wyssii DNA analysis shows that a different species flies on each of the five western Canary Islands. These may be semi-species forming a super-species group, but that distinction is in the domain of the taxonomist. It must be said that visually all these taxa are extremely similar.
The new classification is as follows:
H. tamadabae from Gran Canaria.
H. wyssii from Tenerife.
H. tilosi from La Palma.
H. gomera from Gomera.
H. bacchus from Hierro.
Identification & Similar species: Location (island) separates this group of five species from one another. No other similar species fly in the Canaries.
Distribution & Flight: The current species is the earliest on the wing, being found from April at lower levels in the south of the Gran Canaria into late summer in a single brood.
Habitat & Behaviour: Flies on rocky mountain slopes with grasses and flowers - a description which actually describes most of the southern and upper parts of the island! Very sensitive to approach as it rests on rocks where it is extremely well camouflaged.
![Photo: tamadabae12.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae12.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
![Photo: tamadabae1.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae1.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Habitat shared with the Canary blue C. webbianus.
![Photo: tamadabae7.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae7.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
The butterflies flew at the sound of the camera shutter. Note the dark sex brand of the male.
![Photo: tamadabae19.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae19.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae18.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae18.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae20.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae20.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae15.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae15.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, March 2016
The blue sheen changes with the angle.
![Photo: tamadabae16.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae16.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae14.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae14.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, March 2016
![Photo: tamadabae8.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae8.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
![Photo: tamadabae2.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae2.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
![Photo: tamadabae4.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae4.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae13.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae13.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae11.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae11.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
![Photo: tamadabae5.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae5.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae9.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae9.jpg)
![Photo: tamadabae10.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae10.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
![Photo: tamadabae22.jpg](../pics/t/tamadabae22.jpg)
Gran Canaria, Spain, March 2016