Corresponding author: Bruno Massa (
Academic editor: F. Montealegre-Z
This paper reports on some interesting taxa recently found in the Arabian Peninsula and the island of Socotra. Among them is a new species of brachypterous grasshopper
Massa B (2017) New and interesting Orthoptera from the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra. ZooKeys 679: 37–46.
The Arabian Peninsula is located between the two wide continents of Africa and Asia, its fauna containing species of Asian and African origin. The
Taxonomical arrangement follows that of Cigliano et al. (
Yemen, Socotra, Wadi Ayhaft 23.I.2014,
Only one species, endemic to Socotra, is known from this genus. A previous record from this taxon is that of a male holotype, collected on 15 March 1953 along the northern slopes of the Hagghier, at Hijama (Hadiboh Plain) (
Oman, Dhofar, Wadi Ayun (680 m) 18.XI.2016, A. Carapezza (1♂); Oman, Dhofar, Jebel Qamar (650 m) 14.XI.2016, A. Carapezza (1♂) (
This species is considered to be an endemic taxon to the southern Arabian Peninsula, known only from Dhofar region. According to
Oman, Dhofar, Wadi Mugshail (light trap) 18.XI.2016, A. Carapezza (1♀) (
Measurements (in mm). Female. Body length: 30.3; length of pronotum: 7.0; height of pronotum: 6.0; length of tegmina: 16.2; length of hind femur: 18.9; height of hind femur: 4.6.
Oman, Dhofar, Jebel Qara, Jabal Darabab (1100 m) 16.XI.2016, A. Carapezza (1♀); Oman, Dhofar, Wadi Ayun (680 m) 18.XI.2016, A. Carapezza (1♀); Saudi Arabia, Wadi Jizan 11.VIII.1978, Filipponi (1♂) (
Oman, Dhofar, Wadi Ayun (680 m)
Male (Figs
Female (Figs
The species is assigned to the
(in mm). Male. Body length: 23.6; length of pronotum: 4.8; height of pronotum: 5.3; length of tegmina: 11.4; length of hind femur: 12.8; height of hind femur: 4.5. Female. Body length: 28.7–31.9; length of pronotum: 8.3–8.6; height of pronotum: 7.7–8.3; length of tegmina: 16.8–17.9; length of hind femur: 18.6–18.8; height of hind femur: 6.4–6.7.
Named for Attilio Carapezza, distinguished Italian heteropterologist, who collected most of the
Wadi Ayun (Arab = Valley of sources) is a very isolated narrow strip of green in an otherwise parched region; at the bottom there are deep pools of flowing blue-green water around sedges and grasses. A rocky desert surrounds it for dozens of kilometers (Fig.
The habitat at Wadi Ayun (Dhofar, Oman) where
I am indebted to Attilio Carapezza, who provided the specimens collected from Oman and Socotra. I also thank Josip Skejo and one anonymous referee for their useful comments and suggestions on a first manuscript. I am also very grateful to John J. Borg for the English revision.