We describe the chromosome numbers of a monophyletic group of Satyroid subfamilies of primary fruit-attracted butterflies from South America: Charaxinae, Morphinae (including Brassolini) and Satyrinae. The charaxines do not have a distinct modal number. Their chromosome numbers are in the range n = 6-50, with n = 7-9, n = 12, n = 16, n = 19-21, n = 26, and n = 28-31 being the most common numbers. Within the Morphinae, the Morphini have a modal n = 28 and the Brassolini a modal n = 29, with few exceptions. The Neotropical satyrines, in particular the basal species, have a weak modal n = 29, which is a strong modal number in Palearctic satyrines. The African satyrines have an equally strong modal n = 28. Most Neotropical satyrines have, like charaxines, chromosome numbers lower than the weak modal n = 29, and often half this modal, but there are genera with stable numbers among the satyrines and charaxines. 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