Papilio ophidicephalus, the emperor swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae.

It has two broods, one from August to December and the second from January to April.

[3] The larvae feed on Clausena inqequalis, Calodendrum capense, Citrus species, Clausena anisata, Zanthoxylum capense and other Zanthoxylum species.

[2] Papilio ophidicephalus is a member of the menestheus species group.

The members of the clade are: Listed alphabetically:[2]