Dracotettix
Bruner, 1889
dragon lubbers
Dracotettix is a of flightless commonly known as dragon lubbers, placed in the . The genus contains at least three described , including the notably large and distinctive Dracotettix monstrosus. These are characterized by their , heavily built bodies and reduced . They are to western North America, with records from California and northwestern Mexico.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Dracotettix: /ˌdrækoʊˈtɛtɪks/
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Identification
Dracotettix can be distinguished from other romaleid by their large, bulky bodies, greatly reduced or absent rendering them flightless, and often strikingly or sculptured . The name references their dragon-like appearance. Dracotettix monstrosus in particular is noted for its exceptional size and grotesque, heavily armored compared to .
Images
Distribution
Western North America: California (United States) and northwestern Mexico.
Similar Taxa
- RomaleaBoth are large, flightless romaleid with reduced , but Romalea () occurs in the southeastern United States and has distinct color patterns and body proportions.
More Details
Etymology
The name combines Latin 'draco' (dragon) with '-tettix' (from Greek tettix, meaning or ), referencing the formidable, dragon-like appearance of these . The epithet 'monstrosus' of the species emphasizes its unusually large and grotesque form.
Taxonomic note
Some sources (including iNaturalist and older Wikipedia entries) list Dracotettix in , but current place it in based on phylogenetic studies of relationships.