Acrophylla alta

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Acrophylla alta
Acrophylla alta Holotype female in nature.jpg
Holotype female in nature
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Phasmatinae
Tribe: Phasmatini
Genus: Acrophylla
Species:
A. alta
Binomial name
Acrophylla alta
Coupland & Emmott, 2025

Acrophylla alta is a species of stick insect in the tribe Phasmatini described in 2025. [1]

Contents

Named the Highlands Giant Acrophylla, this species was found in the Atherton Tablelands: highland tropical forests of Queensland (Millaa Millaa is the type locality). [2] The species was described by scientists Ross M. Coupland and Angus J. Emmott based on two female specimens. [1] The holotype was collected by Coupland in November 2024 [3] and the paratype by van Oosterzee, Preece and Emmott in February 2025, [4] and both are lodged at the Queensland Museum. [1]

Description

This species of stick insect is notable in that it may be the heaviest insect in Australia, heavier than the giant burrowing cockroach. [5] One individual weighed 44 g and this may mitigate heat loss in its high altitude environment. [1] The species can be distinguished from other species in the genus Acrophylla by its 265–279 mm long body (c.f. A. titan which is 200–260 mm), and its large (4 x >6 mm) pale eggs that have dense, deep pitting. [1] [6]

The species epithet alta refers to the high elevation at which this species is known to occur, higher than 900 m above sea level. [1] Individuals of this species occupy the canopies of very tall trees from 30 to 60 m high, making it difficult to study them. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Coupland, R; Emmott, A (2025). "A new giant species of Acrophylla Gray, 1835 (Phasmida: Phasmatidae: Phasmatini) from the highlands of the Wet Tropics, Queensland, Australia". Zootaxa. pp. 371–383. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.4.
  2. ↑ Phasmida Species File: Species Acrophylla alta Coupland & Emmott, 2025 (retrieved 31 July 2025)
  3. ↑ "Acrophylla alta holotype". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  4. ↑ "Acrophylla alta paratype". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  5. ↑ Close-Brown, Eelemarni (2025-07-31). "Supersized stick insect discovered in high-altitude trees in Australia". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  6. ↑ Anderson, Natali (2025-08-01). "New Species of Giant Stick Insect Discovered in Australia | Sci.News". Sci.News: Breaking Science News. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  7. ↑ Woodford, James. "New-to-science stick insect is the heaviest ever found in Australia". New Scientist. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
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