Phymonotus

The genus is diagnosed by an enlarged dome-like pronotum that is unusually elevated compared to related genera. Additional diagnostic characters include the dorsal and ventral lobes of the titillators and the dorsal sclerites of the titillators. The sole species, P. jacintotopos, exhibits distinct red-and-black coloration not found in similar katydids.

Restricted to high-elevation mixed conifer forests above 1,500 meters elevation, extending to at least 3,000 meters. Forest composition includes Jeffrey pine, Ponderosa pine, White fir, and California incense cedar. The genus occurs in geographically isolated montane habitats on the western slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains, with notable concentration near Fern Valley.

Endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains of southern California, USA. This range represents the highest section of the Baja California Peninsular Ranges.

Males produce a distinctive calling song. Males have been observed to possibly produce thoracic glandular secretions that may be offered to mating females, suggesting potential courtship feeding behavior.

• AgalothoraxPhylogenetically related genus occurring in lower elevation environments throughout the surrounding region; distinguished from Phymonotus by the latter's enlarged dome-like pronotum and high-elevation restriction.
• NedubaPhylogenetically related genus found in lower elevation environments throughout the surrounding region; Phymonotus is distinguished by its elevated pronotum structure and isolated montane distribution.

• katydid
• shieldback
• endemic
• montane
• California
• monotypic
• Pleistocene relic

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Phymonotus jacintotopos: A new genus and species of shield-backed katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae: Nedubini) from the San Jacinto Mountains of California, USA