Xanthippus
Saussure, 1884
Redshanked Grasshopper
Species Guides
5- Xanthippus aquilonius
- Xanthippus brooksi
- Xanthippus corallipes(Red-shanked Grasshopper)
- Xanthippus montanus(sandhills band-wing grasshopper)
- Xanthippus sierra
Xanthippus is a of band-winged grasshoppers in the Acrididae, Oedipodinae. The genus was established by Saussure in 1884 and contains distributed across western North America, including the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions. Species in this genus are characterized by their association with sandy or loose-soil and their distinctive coloration patterns.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Xanthippus: //zænˈθɪpəs//
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Identification
Xanthippus can be distinguished from similar band-winged grasshoppers by their relatively robust body form and the characteristic red or reddish coloration of the hind tibiae, which gives Xanthippus corallipes its "Redshanked Grasshopper." The belongs to the tribe Hippiscini within the Oedipodinae, which can be separated from other Oedipodinae by features of the male genitalia and wing venation patterns. Identification to species level requires examination of the pronotal shape, wing coloration, and details of the hind leg coloration.
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Habitat
of Xanthippus are associated with sandy soils, dunes, and loose-substrate environments in grassland and shrubland . They are typically found in open, dry areas with sparse vegetation cover where their substrate-matching coloration provides camouflage.
Distribution
The Xanthippus occurs in western North America, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, Arizona, California, and Colorado. The two recognized , Xanthippus corallipes and Xanthippus montanus, have overlapping but somewhat distinct ranges in the Rocky Mountain region and western Great Plains.
Similar Taxa
- HippiscusHippiscus ocelote (Wrinkled Grasshopper) shares the tribe Hippiscini with Xanthippus and occurs in similar sandy grassland , but can be distinguished by its more wrinkled pronotal surface and different wing coloration patterns.
- TrimerotropisTrimerotropis are also band-winged grasshoppers in Oedipodinae with similar preferences, but belong to different tribes and typically have more pronounced wing banding patterns and different hind tibia coloration.
- SpharagemonSpharagemon (Mottled Sand Grasshoppers) share sandy associations and Oedipodinae, but have different pronotal shapes and lack the distinctive red hind tibiae characteristic of Xanthippus corallipes.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
The name Xanthippus was also borne by an Athenian politician and general of the 5th century BC, father of Pericles. The entomological genus was named by Saussure in 1884, long after the classical figure. The etymology of the genus name derives from Greek roots meaning 'yellow horse,' originally referring to the classical figure's name, but applied to these grasshoppers likely in reference to their coloration.