The Jamaican swallowtail butterflies are the smallest subspecies of Papilio thoas.
The swallowtail one of the largest butterflies in the Western Hemisphere, with a wing span of 12.5 cm. Besides its size, the most apparent feature of the swallowtail butterfly is its yellow and black colouring.
The swallowtail butterflies were first discovered in the 18th century. The species is rare as it is mainly found in the eastern end of the Blue Moun-tains and the cockpit country.
The swallowtail is endemic to Jamaica, which means that it can only be found here. It flies high in the mountains and is not easily collected.
