Researchers have found a new butterfly species which they believe is the only kind of butterfly endemic to Alaska. The butterfly, called the Tanana arctic, was misidentified for over six decades, as per the researchers.

The butterfly species could be spotted in Tanana-Yukon River Basin region. Researchers think the butterfly could change their opinion on global warming as it responds very quickly to climate change. The new Alaskan butterfly species may help study changes in the arctic ecosystem, said Andrew Warren, a butterfly expert from the University of Florida in Gainesville and an author of a new paper on the discovery.

The paper has been published in the Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera. “This butterfly has apparently lived in the Tanana River valley for so long that if it ever moves out, we’ll be able to say ‘Wow, there are some changes happening’. This is a region where the permafrost is already melting and the climate is changing”, said Warren.

It is the first butterfly species found in Alaska region in last approximately three decades. According to Warren, there is a huge possibility that the butterfly is a hybrid between the Chryxus Arctic, or Brown Arctic, and the White-veined Arctic.

Warren said he first spotted the Tanana Arctic butterfly when he arranged butterfly specimens for a museum collection. This butterfly had characteristics different from O. chryxus. In addition, it was darker and larger than other butterfly species, Warren added.

A team of eight researchers examined the unique butterfly and found that its DNA was similar to the White-veined Arctic. After further analysis, they concluded that the species is a hybrid between Chryxus Arctic and the White-veined Arctic. They also stated that the two butterflies interbred before the last ice age.