Sigaus australis
Encyclopedia
Sigaus australis is the most common alpine grasshopper found in New Zealand
. It can be found in the lower half of the South Island
, from the Otago
and Canterbury Region. S. australis was described in 1897 by Frederick Wollaston Hutton
. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers S. australis 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 S. australis do not overwinter. The genus Sigaus is endemic to New Zealand
.
, from Otago
and Canterbury regions. It can be found as far south as the Kawarau River
(45.828700°N 168.967102°W) and as far north as the Torless Range (43.244052°N 171.809578°W). Sigaus australis prefer tussock grasslands between 1300–1700 m (4,265.1–5,577.4 ft) in altitude, however, can be found as low as 200 metres (656.2 ft) on the Alexandra Tailings, (45.246895°N 169.368559°W) and as high as 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft) on Smite Peak (43.35276073°N 171.2380887°W).
, there is no polymorphism
within this species. They will match the surrounding vegetation with colours of earth tones.
Paprides torquatus Hutton (1898:47)
Paprides armillaus Hutton (1898:47-48)
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It can be found in the lower half of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, from the Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and Canterbury Region. S. australis was described in 1897 by Frederick Wollaston Hutton
Frederick Wollaston Hutton
Captain Frederick Wollaston Hutton, FRS, was an English scientist who applied the theory of natural selection to explain the origins and nature of the natural history of New Zealand.- Biography :...
. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers S. australis has a 2 or 3 years life cycle
Biological life cycle
A life cycle is a period involving all different generations of a species succeeding each other through means of reproduction, whether through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction...
. The eggs must ‘overwinter’ before they will hatch. Hoppers are found throughout the year, and adult grasshoppers can be found throughout the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
between December
December
December is the 12th and last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.December starts on the same day as September every year and ends on the same day as April every year.-Etymology:...
and April
April
April is the fourth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and one of four months with a length of 30 days. April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before January and February were added by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC...
. The adult S. australis do not overwinter. The genus Sigaus is endemic to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Distribution and habitat
Sigaus australis can be found in the lower half of the South IslandSouth Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, from Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and Canterbury regions. It can be found as far south as the Kawarau River
Kawarau River
Kawarau River drains Lake Wakatipu, in northwestern Otago, New Zealand. The river flows generally eastwards for about 60 km and passes through the steep Kawarau Gorge until it joins Lake Dunstan near Cromwell. The Shotover River enters it from the north; the Nevis River enters it from the south...
(45.828700°N 168.967102°W) and as far north as the Torless Range (43.244052°N 171.809578°W). Sigaus australis prefer tussock grasslands between 1300–1700 m (4,265.1–5,577.4 ft) in altitude, however, can be found as low as 200 metres (656.2 ft) on the Alexandra Tailings, (45.246895°N 169.368559°W) and as high as 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft) on Smite Peak (43.35276073°N 171.2380887°W).
Species description
The wings on S. australis are micropterous (small wings) between 2–4 mm (0.078740157480315–0.15748031496063 in) making this species flightless like most of New Zealand grasshoppers. Sigaus australis is highly crypsisCrypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
, there is no polymorphism
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
within this species. They will match the surrounding vegetation with colours of earth tones.
Type Information
Paprides australis Hutton (1897:147)- Hutton, F.W. 1897: The grasshopper and locusts of New Zealand and the Kermadec Island. Proc. Trans. NZ Inst. 30: 135-50
- Type locality: Probably from GlenorchyGlenorchy, New ZealandGlenorchy is a small settlement nestled in spectacular scenery at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's south Island. It is approximately 45 kilometres by road or boat from Queenstown, the nearest large town....
, Lake WakatipuLake WakatipuLake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the southwest corner of Otago Region, near its boundary with Southland.With a length of , it is New Zealand's longest lake, and, at , its third largest...
, OtagoOtagoOtago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
. 44.851478°N 168.387771°W. - Type specimen: Female; C Chilton; HolotypeHolotypeA holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
and LectotypeLectotypeIn botanical nomenclature and zoological nomenclature, a lectotype is a kind of name-bearing type. When a species was originally described on the basis of a name-bearing type consisting of multiple specimens, one of those may be designated as the lectotype...
are deposited in the Canterbury Museum, ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
Paprides torquatus Hutton (1898:47)
- Hutton, F.W. 1898: Notes on the New Zealand. Proc. Trans. NZ Inst. 31: 44-50
- Type locality: Probably from Mount Torlesse, Canterbury. 43.256418°N 171.821165°W.
- Type specimen: Male; HolotypeHolotypeA holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
deposited in the Canterbury Museum, ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
Paprides armillaus Hutton (1898:47-48)
- Hutton, F.W. 1898: Notes on the New Zealand. Proc. Trans. NZ Inst. 31: 44-50