A review of the Acridinae s. str. (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Acrididae) of eastern Africa with taxonomic changes and description of new taxa
Author
Popov †, George B.
Author
Fishpool, Lincoln D. C.
Author
Rowell, C. Hugh F.
text
Journal of Orthoptera Research
2019
28
2
37
105
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jor.28.29312
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jor.28.29312
1937-2426-2-37
Gymnobothrus levipes levipes (Karsch, 1896), stat. n. et
comb. n.
Figs 259-264
Chrysochraon levipes
Karsch, 1896: 255
Gymnobothroides levipes
(Karsch, 1896) (syn.
Johnston 1956
)
Gymnobothroides montanus
Kevan, 1950 syn. n.
including
Gymnobothroides pullus montanus
Jago, 1968
Material and discussion.
-Lectotype male
levipes
here designated: TANZANIA: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Djagga, Madjame. MfN. 2 female paralectotypes, same data, MfN. Additional specimens: TANZANIA: Arusha, Grevillea Plantation, II; E. of Mt. Meru, Ngurdoto Lake Crater, XI; E. side of Mt. Meru, 6150' (1875 m), Ngurdoto Nat. Park VI. KENYA: Type locality of
montanus
Kevan: Taita hills, 4500
-5500'
(1370-1675 m), grass and bushes, 25.XII.1945; Taita Farmer Training Centre, 8 km. S. of Wundanyi (
03°26'S
38°20'E
), 5400' (1645 m), V.1975. Following material from KENYA exhibits clinal links with
abbreviatus
: Machakos, Malili Ranch, IV; Nairobi, Karen-Ngong Rd. II. These are generally of smaller size with shorter antennae narrower tegmina and brighter coloration (NHMUK).
Description.
-Synonymy and species diagnosis as above. Differs from subsp. abbreviatus as follows: proportionately slightly larger size, more slender build; size (in mm): total length males 11-14, females 18-20; slightly longer antennae; somewhat broader and less sulcate frontal ridge; slightly less constricted pronotum (but similar otherwise in that lateral carinae are interrupted only by typical sulcus and hind margin of metazona is emarginate) (Figs 261, 262); broader, more rounded tegmina (Fig. 258) and a more uniform coloration, in type material of
levipes
from
'Kilimanjaro'
, specimens from Arusha in Tanzania and types of
montanus
from Kenya, Taita hills in southern Kenya, general coloration is reddish-brown; lateral dark band is faint and lower area of hind femur is in shades of orange; this may, however, be in other shades of brown and stramineous; lower area of hind femur is ochraceous.
Discussion.
-Study of the three syntypes of
Chrysochraon levipes
Karsch, 1896 has shown them to be conspecific with the two types of
Gymnobothroides montanus
Kevan, 1950, differing only in the slightly smaller size of the former. The male syntype is here designated as lectotype and the two females as paralectotypes. The closest match with the lectotype specimens of
levipes
are specimens from Mt. Meru-Ngurdoto National Park, Momella Lakes and W. Usambara, Mazumbai Forest Res.
Distribution.
-S. KENYA; N. E. TANZANIA.