Research Article |
Corresponding author: Josip Skejo ( skejo.josip@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Tony Robillard
© 2020 Josip Skejo, Matthew Connors, Michael Hendriksen, Nick Lambert, Griffin Chong, Ian McMaster, Nick Monaghan, David Rentz, Reiner Richter, Kathy Rose, Damjan Franjević.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Skejo J, Connors M, Hendriksen M, Lambert N, Chong G, McMaster I, Monaghan N, Rentz D, Richter R, Rose K, Franjević D (2020) Online social media tells a story of Anaselina, Paraselina, and Selivinga (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae), rare Australian pygmy grasshoppers. ZooKeys 948: 107-119. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.948.52910
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Knowledge on the pygmy grasshoppers of Australia is, despite the numerous endemics being described from this unique continent, still scarce. Of interest is the Vingselina genus group, including genera Anaselina Storozhenko, 2019, Paraselina Storozhenko, 2019, Selivinga Storozhenko, 2019 and Vingselina Sjöstedt, 1921. The systematic position of this group, currently assigned to Batrachideinae (Bufonidini), is probably not correct. In this study new records are presented of Anaselina minor (Sjöstedt, 1921), Paraselina brunneri (Bolívar, 1887), P. trituberculata (Sjöstedt, 1932), and Selivinga tribulata Storozhenko, 2019, all except A. minor the first records of the species since their original descriptions. The first photographs of living specimens of A. minor, P. brunneri, P. trituberculata and S. tribulata are provided and their habitats described. All the records were compiled by citizen scientists who use online social media, such as iNaturalist. Lastly, P. multifora (Rehn, 1952) syn. nov. represents a junior synonym of P. brunneri.
barkhopper, Batrachideinae, citizen science, Cladonotinae, Flickr, iNaturalist, New South Wales, Queensland, relics, Tetrigoidea
A long history of existence in isolation has resulted in Australia being one of the strongholds of Earth’s biodiversity. It is a place where more than 80% of fauna and flora are endemic (
In this study, we present eleven new records of Australian tetrigids that exhibit characters between Batrachideinae and Cladonotinae (
Updated distribution map of the Australian pygmy grasshoppers – Anaselina minor, Paraselina brunneri, P. trituberculata, and Selivinga tribulata. Each species is represented by its unique symbol, the silhouette of the species pronotum. The small map of Australia shows two regions inhabited by the barkhoppers.
Taxonomy follows
We follow the morphological terminology presented by
We have examined type specimens of all the Australian Batrachideinae: Bufonidini, and those specimens are the only published specimens of said species. The exception are a few non-type specimens of Anaselina minor, originating from Cape Tribulation, deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (
MCZ US Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (types of Vingselina multifora Rehn, 1952);
Eight new records were posted on online social media by citizen scientists and then identified by specialists: iNaturalist (Table
All the known records of Anaselina minor, Paraselina brunneri (= Paraselina multifora), Paraselina trituberculata, and Selivinga tribulata, the Australian endemic Batrachideinae/Cladonotinae (P. tritub. – Paraselina trituberculata, NSW – New South Wales, QLD – Queensland, HT – holotype, LT – lectotype, PT – paratype, *– new records).
Locality | Coordinates | Date | Specimen data | Reference | N | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A. minor | QLD: Herberton | (17.38S, 145.42E) | early 1900s | 1♀HT, Mjöberg, |
|
1 |
QLD: Cape Tribulation tropical rainforest | 16.117S, 145.433E | 10.–30.III.2000. | 2 ♂♂ + 1♀, S. Storozhenko ( |
|
2 | |
QLD: Wooroonooran | 17.653S, 145.718E | 05.X.2019. | 1♂, M. Connors | This study* | 3 | |
P. brunneri | NSW: Sydney | (33.68S, 150.56E) | 1860s | 1♀ LT, Frauenfeld, |
|
4 |
NSW: Lansdowne Forest: Starrs Creek | 31.6997S, 152.5129E | 07.IV.2019. | 1♀, R. Richter | iNaturalist* | 5 | |
NSW: Upper Orara | 30.2801S, 152.9441E | 29.I.2019. | 1♀, N. Lambert | iNaturalist* | 6 | |
NSW: Dorrigo: 900 m a.s.l. (Macleay Range) | (30.40S, 152.65E) | 1930s | 1♀ HT; 2♀♀PTs, Darlington, MCZ US |
|
7 | |
NSW: Salisbury | (32.19S, 151.56E) | 12.II.1932. | 1♀ PT, MCZ US | 8 | ||
QLD: Mount Mellum | 26.8239S, 152.9199E | 29.I.2019. | 1 indiv., I. McMaster | iNaturalist* | 9 | |
QLD: Mount Glorious | 27.3161S, 152.7308E | 02.I.2019. | 1♂, G. Chong | QuestaGame, iNaturalist* | 10 | |
P. tritub. | QLD: Mount Tambourine | (27.88S, 153.18E) | 28.X.1912. | 1♀ HT, Brisbane |
|
11 |
NSW: Wilsons Creek | 28.5713S, 153.4265E | 30.I.2013. | 1♂, K. Rose | Flickr* | 12 | |
S. tribulata | QLD: Cape Tribulation | 16.1166S, 145.4333E | 10.–30.III.2000. | 1♀ HT; 2♀♀, 1♂ PTs, author, |
Storozhenko, 2019 | 13 |
QLD: Kuranda | 16.8050S, 145.6385E | 10.XI.2010. | D. Rentz | Flickr* | 14 | |
QLD: Julatten: Kingfisher Park | 16.5940S, 145.3399E | 15.X.2013. | N. Monaghan | LifeUnseen* | 15 | |
QLD: Cardwell: Tully Gorge | 17.7749S, 145.6504E | 15.XI.2017. | M. Connors | iNaturalist* | 16 | |
QLD: Speewah Conservation Park | 16.88S, 145.64E | 05.II.2019. | M. Connors | This study* | 17 | |
QLD: Redlynch | 16.889S, 145.686E | 14.IV.2019. | M. Connors | This study* | 18 |
Australian Batrachideinae of the genera Paraselina and Selivinga in online social media. The number from the table accompanies the number of the record from Table
Species | Observer | Link to the observation(s) | N |
---|---|---|---|
Paraselina brunneri | Reiner Richter | https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/22360480 | 5 |
Nick Lambert | https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19947697 | 6 | |
Ian McMaster | https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/35283526 | 7 | |
Griffin Chong | https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19373510 | 10 | |
P. trituberculata | Kathy Rose | https://www.flickr.com/photos/imbala/8466615980 | 11 |
Selivinga tribulata | David Rentz | https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturenoises/7570494412 | 14 |
Nick Monaghan | https://www.lifeunseen.smugmug.com/insects/grasshoppers-crickets-katydids/grasshoppers-suborder-caelifer/tetrigidae-pygmy-grasshoppers | 15 | |
Matthew Connors | https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37612204 | 16 |
In addition to the published specimens, which are mostly the type specimens’ records deposited in museum collections (see
1. Anaselina minor (Sjöstedt, 1921), Tiny helmed groundhopper
The Tiny helmed groundhopper (Figure
The species has hitherto been known from two localities, the type locality (
2. Paraselina brunneri (Bolívar, 1887), Angled Australian barkhopper
The Angled Australian barkhopper Paraselina brunneri (Figure
Now, after examination of the holotype of P. brunneri (see
There is considerable infraspecific variability in size, coloration, and angulation of the median carina of the pronotum. Differences separating P. multifora from P. brunneri, reported by
The types of the two taxa are very similar, but in addition we have new records, which provide evidence of this infraspecific variability, especially in the size and morphology of the median carina of the pronotum.
3. Paraselina trituberculata (Sjöstedt, 1932), Triple-bump Australian barkhopper
The Triple-bump Australian barkhopper Paraselina trituberculata (Figure
Here, we not only report the species for the first time since the description, but also report a male specimen for the first time. The specimen was photographed by Kathy Rose and uploaded to Flickr, where it was accidentally discovered by Josip Skejo and with help of Josef Tumbrinck identified as Paraselina trituberculata. The male was found in the rainforest of Wilsons Creek sitting on bark that was full of mushrooms (Figure
The species is known from two rainforest localities (Figure
4. Selivinga tribulata Storozhenko, 2019, Tribulation helmed groundhopper
The Tribulation helmed groundhopper (Figure
The Tribulation helmed groundhopper, Selivinga tribulata, Living specimens in natural habitat. A Female from Kuranda (David Rentz) B male from Kuranda (David Rentz), male from Tully Range (Matthew Connors) D nymph from Redlynch (Matthew Connors) E, G a male from Kingfisher park (Nick Monaghan) F female from Speewah (Matthew Connors).
The species inhabits the northern part of Queensland and is, for now, known from Cape Tribulation (the type locality), Kuranda (Figure
Even though the species has been described only recently, DR had already been aware of its existence since 2000, and there is indeed a notable population in the author’s garden (see habitat in Figure
Even though throughout the study we call them Batrachideinae, and even though Australian barkhoppers and helmed groundhoppers were recently placed in the tribe Bufonidini, together with New Guinean Bufonides, it remains questionable as to where Anaselina, Paraselina, Selivinga, Vingselina, and Vilma really belong.
Poor taxonomic knowledge does not prevent us from assessing distributions of Australian barkhoppers, nor from separating species. Species of the genera Anaselina, Paraselina, and Selivinga inhabit humid forests of eastern Australia and are easily distinguishable from each other. In the past it was difficult to study material from different places rapidly. In this study, we show that mainly with records from online social media platforms we can add knowledge to the biology and taxonomy of certain species. Today, it is much easier to study material from all over the world and communicate with experts and citizen scientists. Citizen science records contributed to the knowledge of morphology of Paraselina brunneri and P. multifora, which had not been recorded for many decades. From these photos, we have found that specimens vary in certain morphological traits and that micro-differences used to separate P. brunneri from P. multifora are not species-specific, so P. multifora should be considered a synonym of P. brunneri.
Anaselina minor is the smallest member of the Vingselina genus group, now known from three localities in the northern Queensland. Selivinga tribulata was described only last year from Cape Tribulation and here we report three new localities for this species, with a description and depiction of its habitat. We also present the very first record of Paraselina trituberculata since its description, and confirm that the species is only overlooked, not extinct. Social media platforms are already used by scientists, and studies which will make it available for people to record and learn about species in a more visual and simple manner, are strongly needed.
In conclusion, A. minor, P. brunneri, P. trituberculata, and S. tribulata are easily identifiable, but rare species. Most of the knowledge on their biology was hitherto based on old museum specimens. Here, with united forces of citizens, who post photos online, and experts, who use online social platforms in order to identify specimens, we present an annotated distribution map of the aforementioned species, as well as a taxonomic scrutiny on the system of their classification. Citizen science is not age-limited nor profession-limited. In 2020, anybody and everybody can contribute to biodiversity studies. Evidence is presented by the authors of this study, among which there are an 11-year-old boy and a retired English teacher.
We are thankful to Karmela Adžić and Maks Deranja for sending necessary literature, reading early versions of the manuscript, and for providing valuable comments, criticism, and corrections. JS thanks Sergey Yuryevich Storozhenko and Josef Tumbrinck for numerous fruitful discussions, especially on Batrachideinae taxonomy and biogeography. Griffin Chong is 11 years old and has co-authored this study with the consent of his mother, Dr Jacki Liddle, to whom we express our thanks; he photographed the specimen when he was nine years old. Thanks go to the reviewers H. Devriese and J. Tumbrinck, whose corrections and comments improved quality of the manuscript. The study was JS’s idea. JS, MH, and DF wrote the manuscript, edited the figures, and prepared the map. DR, IM, KR, MC, NL, NM, and RR took the photographs and provided data on the habitat of A. minor (MC), Paraselina brunneri (IM, NL, RR, GC), P. trituberculata (KR), and Selivinga tribulata (DR, MC, NM). All the authors commented on and approved the final version of the manuscript. Open access was funded by the Heinrich – Heine Universität Düsseldorf: Open Access Publishing.