Rhammatocerus viatorius
(Saussure, 1861)
Traveller Grasshopper
Rhammatocerus viatorius, commonly known as the traveller , is a of slant-faced grasshopper in the Acrididae. The species was first described by Saussure in 1861 under the basionym Stenobothrus viatorius. It belongs to the Gomphocerinae and tribe Scyllinini. Two are recognized: the nominate R. v. viatorius and R. v. excelsus.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Rhammatocerus viatorius: //ræməˈtoʊsərəs ˌvaɪəˈtɔːriəs//
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Identification
As a member of Gomphocerinae, this possesses the slant-faced profile characteristic of the . Specific diagnostic features for distinguishing R. viatorius from are not documented in available sources. The Rhammatocerus is part of the tribe Scyllinini, which contains morphologically similar species requiring detailed examination for accurate identification.
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Distribution
Recorded from Central America, North America, and Mexico. Specific distribution records include Rica, Central Mexico, Northeast Mexico, Gulf Coast Mexico, and Southwest Mexico.
Similar Taxa
- Rhammatocerus pictusCongeneric within the same , sharing morphological similarities typical of Rhammatocerus; accurate differentiation requires detailed examination.
More Details
Subspecies
Two are recognized: Rhammatocerus viatorius viatorius (Saussure, 1861) and Rhammatocerus viatorius excelsus (Bruner, 1904).
Phylogenetic Context
The Rhammatocerus was included in the first comprehensive molecular of Acrididae (Song et al., 2018), which demonstrated that many traditionally recognized within Acrididae are and require taxonomic revision. This study indicated a South American origin for the Acrididae approximately 59.3 million years ago.