RESEARCH INTERESTS

Systematics includes the study of natural history, taxonomy, and phylogeny of living and extinct organisms.  Based on discernible characters, phylogenetic systematics aims to reconstruct the history of species diversification, and is thus relevant to all fields of biology.  My research focuses on two broad aspects of systematics: utilizing data from multiple sources in phylogenetic analyses, and how phylogenies can elucidate the evolution of ecological and behavioral characteristics.  I use the Papilionoidea, or butterflies to explore these focal topics. One of my ongoing research projects focuses on a higher level analyses of the nymphalid butterfly subfamily Morphinae and the sister subfamilies Amathusiinae (SE Asia, Malay Archipelago, Australia) and Brassolinae (Neotropical).  Other studies include the genus Heliconius, and butterflies in the family Riodinidae.

GRANT SUPPORT

• National Science Foundation (current and previous support)
• Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Brazil; previous support)

NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Research Associate: American Museum of Natural History
• Associate Professor: Pontifícia Universidade Catóilica do Rio Grande do Sul

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Penz, C.M.  1999.  Higher level phylogeny for the passion-vine butterflies (Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) based on early stage and adult morphology.  Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 127: 277-344.
• Penz, C.M. and H.W. Krenn.  2000.  Behavioral adaptations to pollen-feeding in Heliconius butterflies (Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae): an experiment using Lantana flowers. J. Insect Behav., 13:865-880.
• Penz, C.M. and P.J. DeVries.  2002.  A phylogenetic analysis of Morpho butterflies (Nymphalidae, Morphinae).  Am. Mus. Novitates, 3374:1-33.
• DeVries, P.J. and C.M. Penz.  2002.  The early stage morphology of Alesa amesis (Riodinidae: Eurybiini), a carnivorous butterfly. J. Lepid. Soc., 265-271. 
• Penz, C.M. & P. Djunijanti.  2003.  Phylogenetic relationships among Heliconiinae genera based on early stage and adult morphology (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae).  Systematic Entomology, 28:451-479
• DeVries, P.J., B. Cabral and C.M. Penz. 2004.  The early stages of Apodemia paucipuncta (Riodinidae): myrmecophily, a new caterpillar ant-organ and consequences for classification.  MPM Contributions in Biology and Geology, (102):1-13.
• Penz, C.M. and P. J. DeVries. Systematic position of Apodemia paucipuncta (Riodinidae), and a critical evaluation of the nymphidiine transtilla.  Zootaxa (in press)
• Francini, R.B. and C.M. Penz. An illustrated key to the Actinote from Southeastern Brazil (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). Biota Neotropica (in press)