Rhammatocerus schistocercoides

Definition

A species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, originally described by Rehn in 1906. The specific epithet references its resemblance to Schistocerca species (locusts), though it is not a true locust and lacks the phase polymorphism and gregarious swarming behavior characteristic of that genus. Members of the genus Rhammatocerus are typically found in grassland and savanna habitats of South America.

Etymology

From Greek rhamma (branch, twig) + kerus (horn), referring to antennal or facial features; specific epithet combines Schistocerca (the locust genus) with Greek -oides (resembling), indicating morphological similarity to locusts without implying close phylogenetic relationship.

Example

In Brazilian Cerrado surveys, Rhammatocerus schistocercoides is sometimes mistaken for immature Schistocerca pallens due to convergent body proportions and pronotal shape, requiring examination of the male cerci and furcula for definitive identification.

Related Terms

• Acrididae
• Orthoptera
• Schistocerca
• Rhammatocerus
• gregarious phase
• cercus
• Furcula

Usage Notes

The species epithet 'schistocercoides' is frequently misspelled or misapplied; it does not indicate membership in Schistocerca but rather phenetic similarity. Specimens should be identified using male genitalic characters (cercus shape, epiphallus structure) rather than general habitus, which is unreliable due to convergence with other Gomphocerinae.