Alpinacris tumidicauda

Distribution and habitat

Alpinacris tumidicauda is known only from the Otago and Southland regions of New Zealand. It can be found as far south as Cleughearn Peak (45°49′43″S 167°24′11″E) and as far north as Mount Aurum (44°46′10″S 168°37′21″E). Alpinacris tumidicauda prefers alpine tussock grasslands between 1,300 and 1,700 metres (4,300 and 5,600 ft); it can, however, be found as low as 700 metres (2,300 ft) near the Nevis River (45°08′49″S 169°00′00″E). It is one of three known species of alpine grasshoppers that are found in Fiordland, the other two being Sigaus homerensis and Sigaus takahe.

Alpinacris tumidicauda has a "sister species", Alpinacris crassicauda. There would have originally been only one species of Alpinacris in the South Island; however, the Alpine Fault has separated this species over time, so at the present there are two species—A. tumidicauda in southeast of the South Island and A. crassicauda in the northwest of the island.

Species description

A. tumidicauda is micropterous (small-winged), with wings measuring between 2 and 4 millimetres (0.079 and 0.157 in), making this species flightless like most New Zealand grasshoppers. Male body length is 12–14 millimetres (0.47–0.55 in); female body length is 21–24 millimetres (0.83–0.94 in).

Type information

• Bigelow, R. S. (1967). The Grasshoppers of New Zealand, Their Taxonomy and Distribution. Christchurch: University of Canterbury
• Type locality: Obelisk, Old Man Range, Otago, 1,372 metres (4,501 ft)
• Type specimen: Male; 3 December 1963; R. S. Bigelow. Holotype and paratype are deposited in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.

Polymorphism

Four colour morphs are known for adult A. tumidicauda: green, olive, dark olive and yellow-brown. The most common colour morph is green, followed by the yellow-brown colour morph.