Sigaus | |
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Sigaus piliferus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Orthoptera |
Suborder: | Caelifera |
Family: | Acrididae |
Tribe: | Catantopini |
Genus: | Sigaus Hutton, 1897 [1] |
Species | |
Sigaus australis Contents |
Sigaus of grasshoppers in the tribe Catantopini that isendemic to New Zealand, and all but one species is endemic to the South Island: Sigaus piliferus is the only North Island representative and is the type species. There are eight species in the genus; all are flightless, and many are coloured for camouflage against rocky ground. [2] [3] Sigaus minutus and S. childi are threatened with extinction. [4]
The taxonomy of New Zealand endemic grasshoppers was substantially revised by Bigelow in 1967, based mostly on female genitalia, [2] and again in 2023 using genetic data. [5] The New Zealand radiation of cold-adapted grasshoppers is monophyletic but neither genetics nor morphology resolve distinctive genera, therefore it was suggested that all thirteen species be placed in the genus Sigaus. [5] The genus Sigaus is distinguished from other Acrididae as flightless, silent acridids with short tegmina, crypsis colouration and endemic to New Zealand. Each species has distinctive pronotum shape and structures of the internal male genitalia: the epiphallus lophi are saddle-like in shape with the mesal protuberance of the lophus having a smooth, rounded outline. [6] The genus is monophyletic and sister to grasshoppers from Tasmania, Australia. [7]
Sigaus australis | Sigaus campestris | Sigaus childi | Sigaus homerensis | Sigaus minutus | Sigaus piliferus | Sigaus obelisci | Sigaus takahe | Sigaus villosus | |
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Photograph | |||||||||
Elevation [8] | 1,300–1,700 m (4,300–5,600 ft) | 400–1,500 m (1,300–4,900 ft) | 200–500 m (660–1,600 ft) | 900–1,000 m (3,000–3,300 ft) | 300–800 m (980–2,600 ft) | 1,600–1,800 m (5,200–5,900 ft) | 1,000–1,400 m (5,900–6,900 ft) | 1,800–2,100 m (–6,900 ft) | |
Described [9] | 1897 [1] Hutton | 1897 Hutton | 1999 [10] Jamieson | 2003 [11] Morris | 1967 [12] Bigelow | 1897 Hutton | 1967 Bigelow | 2003 Morris | 1950 [13] Salmon |
Habitat [14] | Tussock grasslands | Dry rocky hillsides/ tussock grasslands | Dry rocky hillsides | Tussock grasslands | Fluvial outwash | Tussock grasslands | Alpine lichen fields | Tussock grasslands | Scree |
Polymorphism [15] | Highly cryptic | Highly cryptic | Highly cryptic | 2 | Highly cryptic | 2 | Highly cryptic | 1 | |
Regions | Canterbury Otago | Canterbury Otago Southland | Otago | Southland | Canterbury | Waikato Gisborne Hawke's Bay Manawatū-Whanganui Wellington | Otago | Southland | Canterbury |
Size [16] | Medium | Medium/large | Medium | Medium | Very small | Large | Large | Medium | Large |
Status [17] | Not threatened | Not threatened | Nationally Critical | Range Restricted | Nationally Endangered | Not threatened | Range Restricted | Range Restricted | Not threatened |
Wings [18] | Micropterous 2–3 mm | Micropterous 2–3 mm | Micropterous 1–2 mm | Micropterous 2–3 mm | Micropterous 1 mm | Micropterous 3–4 mm | Micropterous 3–4 mm | Micropterous 2–4 mm |
Insulanoplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, with just one species: the Snares Island Wētā. Insulanoplectron spinosum is endemic to the subantartic Snares Island of New Zealand, where it is considered to be naturally uncommon. Wētā are nocturnal crickets found all around the world. During the day on the Snares, wētā can be found hiding in seabird burrows.
Pleioplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. These wētā are fairly common at night among the leaf litter in native forest in the South Island of New Zealand. The species look very similar to species of Miotopus, another New Zealand endemic genus, recently resurrected.
Sigaus homerensis is a grasshopper endemic to the southern South Island of New Zealand. It is known only from three isolated populations in Fiordland.
Sigaus childi is an endangered protected species of grasshopper known only from the Alexandra district of the South Island of New Zealand. It is one of just two species of grasshopper listed for protection under the New Zealand Wildlife Act 1953. It is currently classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation. The genus Sigaus is endemic to New Zealand.
Brachaspis robustus is a nationally endangered species of grasshopper endemic to the Mackenzie Basin of the South Island of New Zealand. The genus Brachaspis is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Although a grasshopper, it is a poor jumper, relying on camouflage to hide from predators. It is threatened by introduced mammals such as stoats, hedgehogs, and rats.
Sigaus villosus is New Zealand's largest grasshopper. It is only found in the central mountains of the South Island. The genus Sigaus is endemic to the New Zealand. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers S. villosus has a 2 or 3 years life cycle. The eggs must ‘overwinter’ before they will hatch. Hoppers are found throughout the year and adult grasshoppers can be found throughout the New Zealand summer between December and April. Adult S. villosus do not overwinter.
Alpinacris tumidicauda is a species of grasshopper only known from Otago and Southland, New Zealand. The genus Alpinacris is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. A. tumidicauda was described in 1967 by Robert Sidney Bigelow, with a type locality of Obelisk in the Old Man Range (45°19′22″S169°12′27″E). A male holotype and paratype are deposited in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers, A. tumidicauda has a 2- or 3-year life cycle. The eggs must "overwinter" before they will hatch. Hoppers are found throughout the year, and adult grasshoppers can be found throughout the New Zealand summer between December and April. The adult A. tumidicauda do not overwinter.
Deinacrida connectens, often referred to as the alpine scree wētā, is one of New Zealand's largest alpine invertebrates and is a member of the Anostostomatidae family. Deinacrida connectens is a flightless nocturnal insect that lives under rocks at high elevation. Mountain populations vary in colour. This species is the most widespread of the eleven species of giant wētā (Deinacrida).
Sigaus australis is the most common alpine grasshopper found in New Zealand. It can be found in the southern half of the South Island above the tree line. Sigaus australis was described in 1897 by Frederick Hutton. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers S. australis has a 2 or 3 years life cycle. Individuals can survive the cold by freezing solid at any life stage, at any time of the year. Sigaus australis adults are relatively large grasshoppers. The genus Sigaus is endemic to New Zealand.
Alpinacris crassicauda is a species of grasshopper only known from West Coast Region and Tasman Region, New Zealand. The genus Alpinacris is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. A. crassicauda was described in 1967 by Robert Sidney Bigelow, with a type locality of Lead Hills, Boulder Lake. A male holotype and paratype are deposited in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers A. crassicauda has a 2 or 3 years life cycle. The eggs must ‘overwinter’ before they will hatch. Hoppers are found throughout the year and adult grasshoppers can be found throughout the New Zealand summer between December and April. The adult A. crassicauda do not overwinter.
Phaulacridium marginale is a small species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is endemic to New Zealand where it is found in low elevation open habitat throughout North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and on many smaller islands.
Phaulacridium otagoense is an endemic New Zealand grasshopper found at low elevation throughout the central South Island.
Phaulacridium is a genus of grasshoppers in the tribe Catantopini from Australia and New Zealand. These short-horned grasshoppers have a single generation each year
Sigaus minutus is a species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is one of the smallest and rarest species of grasshopper in New Zealand, found only in the Mackenzie district of South Island. There are nine species within the genus Sigaus described by Bigelow (1967), all endemic to New Zealand. The population status of Sigaus minutus is declining according to threat assessments made by orthopteran experts in 2010.
Brachaspis nivalis, is an alpine short-horned grasshopper, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Brachaspis nivalis is brachypterous and flightless, therefore they travel by hopping. They bask during the day so need open habitat.
Wētā is the common name for a group of about 100 insect species in the families Anostostomatidae and Rhaphidophoridae endemic to New Zealand. They are giant flightless crickets, and some are among the heaviest insects in the world. Generally nocturnal, most small species are carnivores and scavengers while the larger species are herbivorous. Although some endemic birds likely prey on them, wētā are disproportionately preyed upon by introduced mammals, and some species are now critically endangered.
Brachaspis is a genus of grasshoppers belonging to the family Acrididae.
Hemiandrus focalis is a species of ground wētā endemic to New Zealand. This flightless Orthoptera lives in the mountains of the South Island, New Zealand. This species can be distinguished from other ground wētā by their three superior retrolateral spines on their mid tibia and females have relatively long ovipositors. This omnivorous ground wētā species is listed as "not threatened" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Paprides is a genus of short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. There are at least two described species in Paprides, found in New Zealand. Both species were moved to the genus Sigaus in 2023
The Green Rock-hopper grasshopper, Brachaspis collinus is an alpine species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is found in New Zealand in the mountains of northern South Island, above the tree line and as high as 2000 m asl. In New Zealand alpine grasshoppers can freeze solid at any time of the year and are alive when they thaw out when temperatures rise.