Mohavacris timberlakei
Rehn, 1948
Timberlake's Desert Long-horned Grasshopper
Mohavacris timberlakei is a of desert in the Tanaoceridae, to arid regions of California. It belongs to a small family of specialized orthopterans adapted to extreme desert environments. The species was described by Rehn in 1948 and named in honor of the entomologist P.H. Timberlake, who extensively collected insects in the southwestern United States.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mohavacris timberlakei: //moʊˈhævəkrɪs tɪmbərˈleɪki//
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Identification
Distinguished from other Tanaoceridae by its association with the Mojave Desert region and specific genitalic characters; however, detailed diagnostic features require examination of . The Mohavacris contains with elongated relative to many grasshoppers, a trait reflected in the 'long-horned grasshopper' (though not to be confused with Tettigoniidae, which are often called katydids or true long-horned grasshoppers).
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Habitat
Arid desert environments, specifically the Mojave Desert region of California. The Tanaoceridae is specialized for life in extreme desert conditions, with typically associated with sandy or rocky desert substrates.
Distribution
to California, United States, with records from the Mojave Desert region. GBIF distribution records confirm presence in California, North America.
Similar Taxa
- Tanaocerus koebeleiAnother in the same (Tanaoceridae), also found in southwestern North American deserts; differs in distribution and specific morphological characters.
- Other Acrididae grasshoppersSuperficially similar body plan but distinguished by -level characters including structure and desert specialization; Tanaoceridae is a small, distinct family of desert-adapted orthopterans.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
The Tanaoceridae is a small group of orthopterans containing only a few , all restricted to arid regions of North America. These insects are sometimes called 'desert long-horned grasshoppers' due to their relatively long compared to typical grasshoppers, though they are not closely related to katydids (Tettigoniidae), which are the true 'long-horned' orthopterans.
Nomenclatural Origin
The specific epithet 'timberlakei' honors Philip Hunter Timberlake (1883-1981), a prolific entomologist who worked at the University of California, Riverside and made extensive collections of Hymenoptera and other insects throughout the southwestern United States. Multiple insect bear his name, reflecting his significant contributions to regional entomology.