On four endemic genera of Tasmanian Acrididae (Orthoptera)

Abstract

Two endemic Tasmanian genera of catantopine Acrididae, Truganinia and Tasmanalpina, are newly described, and two others, Russalpia Sjöstedt and Tasmaniacris Sjöstedt, redescribed. All but Russalpia (two species) are monotypic, and all are micropterous except Truganinia (mesopterous). The genera are closely related to some of the endemic New Zealand Acrididae, especially in the male genitalia, which must have suffered little modification over the past 50 million years. The species are described and figured, and their distributions plotted and interpreted in relation to historical geographic and climatic changes.