Sigaus

Sigaus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Family:	Acrididae
Genus:	Sigaus Hutton, 1897[1]
Species
Sigaus australis Sigaus campestris Sigaus childi Sigaus homerensis Sigaus minutus Sigaus piliferus Sigaus obelisci Sigaus takahe Sigaus villosus

The genus Sigaus is endemic to New Zealand and with all but one species endemic to the South Island. Sigaus piliferus is currently the only representative of the endemic grasshopper genera found in the North Island. There are eight species with this genus.

The genus Sigaus is easily distinguished from other genera within this family in New Zealand by the distinctive structures of the male genitalia. The epiphallus lophi are saddle-like in shape with the mesal protuberance of the lophus having a smooth, rounded outline. These structures are internal of the male genitalia.^[2]

The taxonomy of New Zealand endemic grasshoppers was substantially revised by Bigelow in 1967.^[3] This review was mostly based on the female genitalia. A new review is currently being performed on the genus Sigaus based on the internal male genitalia by Simon Morris.^[2]

	Sigaus australis	Sigaus campestris	Sigaus childi	Sigaus homerensis	Sigaus minutus	Sigaus piliferus	Sigaus obelisci	Sigaus takahe	Sigaus villosus
Photograph
Altitude[4]	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 (5,900-6,900 ft)
Described[5]	1897[6] Hutton	1897 Hutton	1999[7] Jamieson	2003[8] Morris	1967[9] Bigelow	1897 Hutton	1967 Bigelow	2003 Morris	1950[10] Salmon
Habitat[11]	Tussock grasslands	Dry rocky hillsides/ Tussock grasslands	Dry rocky hillsides	Tussock grasslands	Fluvial outwashs	Tussock grasslands	Alpine lichen fields	Tussock grasslands	Srcees
Polymorphism[12]	Highly crypsis	Highly crypsis	Highly crypsis	2	Highly crypsis		Highly crypsis		1
Regions	Canterbury Otago	Canterbury Otago Southland	Otago	Southland	Canterbury	Waikato Gisborne Hawke's Bay Manawatu-Wanganui Wellington	Otago	Southland	Canterbury
Size[13]	Medium	Medium/large	Medium	Medium	Very small	Large	Large	Medium	Large
Threaten[14]	Not threaten	Not threaten	Nationally Critical	Range Restricted	Nationally Endangered		Range Restricted	Range Restricted	Not threaten
Wings[15]	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

References

1. Hutton, F.W. 1897: The grasshopper and locusts of New Zealand and the Kermadec Island. Proc. Trans. NZ Inst. 30: 135-50
2. S.J. 2002: Identification guide to grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Central Otago and Mackenzie Country. DOC Science Internal Series 26. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 17 p.
3. Bigelow, R.S. The Grasshoppers of New Zealand, Their Taxonomy and Distribution. University of Canterbury, Christchurch. 1967. p. 60.
4. Species prefer altitude.
5. The author and year the species was described.
6. Hutton, F.W. 1897: The grasshopper and locusts of New Zealand and the Kermadec Island. Proc. Trans. NZ Inst. 30: 135-50
7. A new species of Sigaus from Alexandra, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae). New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 26: 43-48.
8. Morris, S.J. 2003: Two new species of Sigaus from Fiordland, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae). New Zealand entomologist, 26: 65–74. PDF
9. Bigelow, R.S. 1967: The Grasshoppers of New Zealand, Their Taxonomy and Distribution. University of Canterbury, Christchurch.
10. Salmon, J.T. 1950: A new species of Acrididae (Insecta: Orthoptera) from New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Vol. 78, Part 1, page 69, February 1950
11. Species prefer habitat.
12. The number of colour morphs known for adults of this species.
13. Size for adult males: Small less than 6 mm; Medium 6-30 mm & Large greater than 30 mm.
14. Base on the New Zealand Threat Classification System
15. Species wing length.