| Neduba extincta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Ensifera |
| Family: | Tettigoniidae |
| Genus: | Neduba |
| Species: | †N. extincta |
| Binomial name | |
| †Neduba extincta Rentz, 1977 | |
Neduba extincta, the Antioch Dunes shieldback katydid, is an extinct species of katydid (family Tettigoniidae) that was endemic to California, United States. It was not discovered until after its extinction. [3]
The Antioch Dunes shield-back katydid is an orthopteran within the family Tettigoniidae (katydids and long-horned grasshoppers). It is considered large for a katydid species. Like all orthopterans, it has powerful hind legs that it uses for jumping and that help it to evade or confuse predators. Both the fore and hind legs are covered in small spines. The pronotum covers only the first tergite of the abdominal region. Connected at the base of the head, the pronotum lifts slightly off the body, hence the "shield-back". The abdomen has ten tergites or sections. They are light brown, with black mottling on the legs and antennae. [4]
There is no record of when the initial specimen was found. Neduba extincta was captured but never fully described. In the 1960s, Dave Rentz found an example of the species in a specimen drawer, however it was not identified or detailed. Rentz noted the unique morphology of its genitalia and the size of the specimen. In his research, he traveled to the Antioch Sand Dunes in California, where the specimen was originally collected, but he found no other living specimens. It took several years of researching until he was finally able to identify the species as Neduba extincta. The Antioch Sand Dunes, the original environment of the Antioch Dunes shield-back katydid, once bordered the Mojave Desert. It is said that in prehistorical times climate alterations separated the dunes from the Mojave, thus isolating species living on the dunes. For this reason, these species' survival was contingent on the uninterrupted ecology of the dunes. As the development of the Western United States began, the dune dwellers such as Neduba extincta declined in population and in this specific case were driven to extinction. [5] [6]
The Antioch Dunes shield-back katydid was found in Antioch, California. It is described in the Antioch Sand Dunes, which formerly occupied a considerable acreage along the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers, but which are now restricted to a small, highly disturbed area under the threat of complete destruction. [7] [8]
The Antioch Dunes shield-back katydid's diet included flowers, leaves, small insects, and fungi. [9] [10]
The extinction of the Antioch Dunes shield-back katydid was due to the industrialization of California. [11] When Europeans started moving into California, Neduba extincta were driven to the Antioch Dunes where they resided until their extinction, [11] recorded to have been around 1996. [12] There were approximately eight different species of insects that were endemic to the Antioch Dunes, three of which are now extinct. The other five are on the list of endangered species. [5]
Kelso Dunes, also known as the Kelso Dune Field, is the largest field of aeolian sand deposits in the Mojave Desert. The region is protected by the Mojave National Preserve and is located near the town of Baker, San Bernardino County, California, and the Preserve Visitor Center. The dune field covers 45 square miles (120 km2) and includes migrating dunes, vegetation-stabilized dunes, sand sheets, and sand ramps. The tallest dunes rise up to 650 feet (200 m) above the surrounding terrain.
Idiostatus is a genus of insects in the family Tettigoniidae which are native to western North America.
Neduba is a genus of insects in the family Tettigoniidae (katydids), which is native to North America.
Alfredectes is a genus of katydid, which is endemic to South Africa.
Neduba carinata is a shield-backed katydid known only from Fremont Peak in San Benito County, California. This name has often been used to describe katydids across a broad portion of the western United States, but most of its subspecies have been elevated to species level, and as currently conceived it only applies to a population on Fremont Peak with a pronotum slightly longer and narrower than the similar N. diabloica.
Neduba diabolica is a species of shield-backed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Idiostatus gurneyi, or Gurney's shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Aglaothorax ovata, the ovate shieldback or ovate shield-back katydid, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America. They are 25-40 mm in length and tend to be green and yellow, sometimes with brown mottling. They have short wings and thick shields on their thorax. Adults are active in late summer and fall.
Eremopedes is a genus of shield-backed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae. There are about 16 described species in Eremopedes.
Idionotus is a genus of shield-backed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae. There are about seven described species in Idionotus.
Neduba sierranus, the sierra shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Neduba macneilli, or Macneill's shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Decticita yosemite, the Yosemite shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Decticita is a genus of shield-backed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae. There are at least three described species in Decticita.
Aglaothorax diminutiva, the diminutive shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Neduba steindachneri, or Steindachner's shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Aglaothorax morsei, or Morse's shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
Neduba propsti, known generally as the Catalina shield-back cricket or Propst's shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America.
