This is a medium-sized lepidopteran that features a wingspan ranging from approximately 45 to 55 millimeters. The dorsal surface of its wings is characterized by a deep dark brown to black ground color, bisected by a prominent and striking bright orange or reddish-orange postdiscal band on the forewings, which is further highlighted by distinct pure white apical spots. The hindwings possess a delicate, short, tail-like projection on the anal margin, which is a key diagnostic feature of this genus, accompanied by subtle dark eyespots bordered by pale blue or grayish tones. Conversely, the ventral side displays a highly complex, cryptic pattern of lines and patches in shades of light brown, gray, and silver, beautifully mimicking the texture and veins of a dried leaf, providing the insect with remarkable camouflage when resting on branches or foliage.

Geographical distribution: This species is primarily distributed throughout the southern regions of the South American continent. Its geographic range is extensively documented across southeastern and southern Brazil, including states such as São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. Furthermore, its range extends westward into eastern Paraguay, down into northeastern Argentina (particularly within the humid subtropical forests of the Misiones province and nearby areas), and throughout various temperate zones of Uruguay, making it a characteristic butterfly of the Río de la Plata basin and its associated woodland systems.

Habitat: It primarily inhabits humid subtropical and temperate forests, exhibiting an exceptionally close association with the South American Atlantic Forest biome. It is frequently encountered along the edges of primary forests, sunny forest clearings, riparian corridors along waterways, recovering secondary forests, and occasionally in wooded urban parks or botanical gardens that preserve native understory vegetation, typically ranging from sea level up to 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) in elevation.

Feeding: As an adult, this butterfly utilizes its specialized proboscis to feed exclusively on liquid nutrients. Its feeding habits are mainly saprophagous; adults are commonly seen feeding on fermenting fruits, sap flows exuding from injured tree trunks, mineral salts dissolved in damp soil (a behavior known as mud-puddling), and occasionally bird droppings or decomposing organic matter. During its larval stage, the diet is strictly herbivorous and monophagous to oligophagous, restricted to host plants belonging to the Urticaceae family, with a strong preference for the genera Urtica and Boehmeria.

Behavior: It is known for its exceptionally swift, erratic, and powerful flight pattern, which typically occurs at mid-canopy heights or just above the forest understory. Males display highly territorial behavior, selecting sunlit leaves as perches from which they actively patrol their territory, intercepting receptive females and aggressively chasing away intruding males in rapid aerial spirals. When threatened or resting, it instantly folds its wings vertically over its back, concealing its bright dorsal colors and relying entirely on its cryptic ventral design to blend seamlessly with the surrounding leaf litter.

Reproduction: The life cycle begins after mating, at which point the gravid female carefully searches for suitable host plants to oviposit. The pale green or yellowish eggs are deposited singly on the underside of tender, young leaves. Upon hatching, the solitary larvae are spiny and dark-colored with lighter longitudinal stripes; they construct protective shelters by folding the edges of host leaves and securing them with silk threads to hide during the day. After completing several larval instars, the caterpillar pupates by attaching itself to a stem or leaf using a cremaster, forming a pendant chrysalis that closely resembles a dried leaf or bird dropping, emerging as an adult after a brief pupal period.

Conservation status: At present, this butterfly has not been globally assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Locally, however, its populations face ongoing threats due to habitat fragmentation and loss caused by the deforestation of the Atlantic Forest, agricultural expansion, and urban sprawl, emphasizing the critical importance of preserving remaining forest corridors to ensure the long-term survival of its natural populations.