Chloealtis aspasma
Rehn & Hebard, 1919
Siskiyou Short-horned Grasshopper, Siskiyou Chloealtis Grasshopper
Chloealtis aspasma is a of short-horned in the Acrididae, native to the Siskiyou region of northern California and southern Oregon. It was described by Rehn & Hebard in 1919. The species is one of three recognized members of the Chloealtis in western North America, alongside C. abdominalis and C. conspersa. It is poorly known compared to its , with limited published biological data.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Chloealtis aspasma: //kloʊˈiːəltɪs əˈspæzmə//
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Identification
Distinguished from Chloealtis abdominalis and Chloealtis conspersa by geographic restriction to the Siskiyou Mountains region of the California-Oregon border. The Chloealtis is characterized by relatively short compared to other Gomphocerinae, but -level diagnostic features for C. aspasma require direct morphological comparison with .
Habitat
Inferred from geographic location and : likely occupies montane forest openings and grassy areas within the Siskiyou Mountain range, similar to the wooded preferences documented for C. conspersa.
Distribution
to the Siskiyou Mountains region: northern California and southern Oregon, United States. GBIF records confirm presence in Oregon.
Similar Taxa
- Chloealtis conspersaOverlaps in western range; distinguished by geographic separation (C. conspersa occurs in the Black Hills, Big Horn and Medicine Bow Mountains) and preference for small forest openings at moderate elevations
- Chloealtis abdominalisOverlaps in western range; distinguished by geographic separation (C. abdominalis occurs in Wyoming mountains in grasslands mixed with ponderosa pines) and more northerly distribution
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Chloealtis currently contains three recognized in North America: C. abdominalis, C. conspersa, and C. aspasma. The latter is the most geographically restricted and least studied of the three.
Data limitations
Published biological information specific to C. aspasma is extremely limited. Most ecological generalizations for this would require inference from , which is not supported here.