# Sigaus

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{{Short description|Genus of grasshoppers}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Sigaus piliferus 1895934.jpg
| image_caption = ''Sigaus piliferus''
| taxon = Sigaus
| authority = Hutton, 1897<ref name=Hutton1897/>
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
''[Sigaus australis](/source/Sigaus_australis)''<br />
''[Sigaus campestris](/source/Sigaus_campestris)''<br />
''[Sigaus crassicauda](/source/Sigaus_crassicauda)''<br />
''[Sigaus collinus](/source/Sigaus_collinus)''<br />
''[Sigaus childi](/source/Sigaus_childi)''<br />
''[Sigaus dugdali](/source/Sigaus_dugdali)''<br />
''[Sigaus minutus](/source/Sigaus_minutus)''<br />
''[Sigaus nitidus](/source/Sigaus_nitidus)''<br />
''[Sigaus nivalis](/source/Sigaus_nivalis)''<br />
''[Sigaus piliferus](/source/Sigaus_piliferus)''<br />
''[Sigaus robustus](/source/Sigaus_robustus)''<br />
''[Sigaus tumidicauda](/source/Sigaus_tumidicauda)''<br />
''[Sigaus villosus](/source/Sigaus_villosus)''
}}

'''''Sigaus''''' is a genus of [grasshopper](/source/grasshopper)s in the tribe [Catantopini](/source/Catantopini) that is endemic to [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand). All but one ''Sigaus'' species is endemic to the South Island: ''[Sigaus piliferus](/source/Sigaus_piliferus)'' is the only North Island representative<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Meza-Joya |first1=Fabio Leonardo |last2=Morgan-Richards |first2=Mary |last3=Trewick |first3=Steven A. |date=2024 |title=Phenotypic and genetic divergence in a cold-adapted grasshopper may lead to lineage-specific responses to rapid climate change |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ddi.13848 |journal=Diversity and Distributions |language=en |volume=30 |issue=6 |doi=10.1111/ddi.13848 |issn=1366-9516|doi-access=free }}</ref> and is the [type species](/source/type_species). Most species in this genus are restricted to alpine habitats. All are wingless and make no sounds.

There are thirteen species in the genus<ref name=":1" /> all are adapted to cold conditions,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Koot |first1=Emily M. |last2=Morgan-Richards |first2=Mary |last3=Trewick |first3=Steven A. |date=2022 |title=Climate change and alpine-adapted insects: modelling environmental envelopes of a grasshopper radiation |journal=Royal Society Open Science |language=en |volume=9 |issue=3 |doi=10.1098/rsos.211596  |doi-access=free|issn=2054-5703 |pmc=8889178 |pmid=35316945|bibcode=2022RSOS....911596K }}</ref> and many are coloured for [camouflage](/source/camouflage) against rocky ground.<ref name=":0">Bigelow, R.S. 1967. ''The Grasshoppers of New Zealand, Their Taxonomy and Distribution''. University of Canterbury, Christchurch. p. 60.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jamieson|first=Colleen D.|date=1999|title=A new species of Sigaus from Alexandra, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae)|journal=New Zealand Journal of Zoology|language=en|volume=26|issue=1|pages=43–48|doi=10.1080/03014223.1999.9518176|issn=0301-4223|doi-access=free}}</ref> The largest species ''Sigaus villosus'' can reach 48mm (body length of adult female).<ref name=":0" /> The smallest species ''[Sigaus minutus](/source/Sigaus_minutus)'' and ''[S. childi](/source/Sigaus_childi)'' are threatened with extinction.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Trewick|first1=S. A.|last2=Morris|first2=S. J.|last3=Johns|first3=P. M.|last4=Hitchmough|first4=R. A.|last5=Stringer|first5=I. A.N.|date=2012|title=The conservation status of New Zealand Orthoptera|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00779962.2012.686318|journal=New Zealand Entomologist|language=en|volume=35|issue=2|pages=131–136|doi=10.1080/00779962.2012.686318|bibcode=2012NZEnt..35..131T |s2cid=219564547|issn=0077-9962|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Taxonomy ==
The taxonomy of New Zealand endemic grasshoppers was substantially revised by Bigelow in 1967, based mostly on female genitalia,<ref name=":0" /> and again in 2023 using genetic data.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Trewick |first1=Steven A. |last2=Koot |first2=Emily M. |last3=Morgan-Richards |first3=Mary |date=2023 |title=Māwhitiwhiti Aotearoa: Phylogeny and synonymy of the silent alpine grasshopper radiation of New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |url=https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5383.2.7 |journal=Zootaxa |language=en |volume=5383 |issue=2 |pages=225–241 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.5383.2.7 |issn=1175-5334 |doi-access=free}}</ref>  The New Zealand radiation of cold-adapted grasshoppers is [monophyletic](/source/Monophyly) but neither genetics nor morphology resolve distinctive genera, therefore it was suggested that all thirteen species be placed in the genus ''Sigaus''.<ref name=":1" /> The genus ''Sigaus'' is distinguished from other Acrididae as flightless, silent acridids with short tegmina, crypsis colouration and endemic to New Zealand. Each species has distinctive pronotum shape and structures of the internal male genitalia: the epiphallus lophi are saddle-like in shape with the mesal protuberance of the lophus having a smooth, rounded outline.<ref name="Sigaus_1">Morris, S.J. 2002: ''Identification guide to grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Central Otago and Mackenzie Country''. DOC Science Internal Series 26. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 17 p.</ref> The genus is [monophyletic](/source/Monophyly) and sister to grasshoppers from Tasmania, Australia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Koot|first1=Emily M.|last2=Morgan-Richards|first2=Mary|last3=Trewick|first3=Steven A.|date=2020|title=An alpine grasshopper radiation older than the mountains, on Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (Southern Alps) of Aotearoa (New Zealand)|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790320300555|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|language=en|volume=147|article-number=106783|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106783|pmid=32135305|bibcode=2020MolPE.14706783K |s2cid=212567788 |issn=1055-7903|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!  !! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus australis''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus campestris''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus childi''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus australis (homerensis)''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus minutus''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus piliferus''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus australis (obelisci)''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus australis (takahe)''!! style="background: #D6D6FF" |''Sigaus villosus''
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Photograph'''|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px|| || style="background: #D6D6FF" |120px
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Elevation'''<ref>Species prefer altitude.</ref>|| style="background: #AAAAFF" | 1,300–1,700 m <BR /><small>(4,300–5,600&nbsp;ft)</small>|| style="background: #AAAAFF" | 400–1,500 m <BR /><small>(1,300–4,900&nbsp;ft)</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |200–500 m<BR /><small>(660–1,600&nbsp;ft)</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |900–1,000 m <BR /><small>(3,000–3,300&nbsp;ft)</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | 300–800 m <BR /><small>(980–2,600&nbsp;ft)</small>||  || style="background: #AAAAFF" | 1,600–1,800 m <BR />(5,200–5,900&nbsp;ft)|| style="background: #AAAAFF" | 1,000–1,400 m <BR />(5,900–6,900&nbsp;ft)|| style="background: #7D7DFF" |1,800–2,100 m <BR />(–6,900&nbsp;ft)
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Described'''<ref>The author and year the species was described.</ref>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | 1897<ref name="Hutton1897">Hutton, F.W. 1897: "The grasshoppers and locusts of New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands". ''Transactions of the New Zealand Institute'' 30: 135-50</ref><BR />Hutton || style="background: #D6D6FF" | 1897<BR />Hutton || style="background: #7D7DFF" | 1999<ref>[https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/publications/journals/nzjz/1999/006/ A new species of ''Sigaus'' from Alexandra, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae).] ''New Zealand Journal of Zoology'', '''26''': 43-48.</ref><BR />Jamieson || style="background: #7D7DFF" | 2003<ref name="Morris_1">Morris, S.J. 2003: "Two new species of ''Sigaus'' from Fiordland, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae)". ''New Zealand entomologist'', '''26''': 65–74. [http://www.ento.org.nz/nzentomologist/free_issues/NZEnto26_1_2003/Volume%2026-65-74.pdf PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721043620/http://www.ento.org.nz/nzentomologist/free_issues/NZEnto26_1_2003/Volume%2026-65-74.pdf |date=2011-07-21 }}</ref><BR />Morris || style="background: #AAAAFF" | 1967<ref>Bigelow, R.S. 1967: ''The Grasshoppers of New Zealand, Their Taxonomy and Distribution''. University of Canterbury, Christchurch.</ref><BR />Bigelow || style="background: #D6D6FF" | 1897<BR />Hutton || style="background: #AAAAFF" | 1967<BR />Bigelow || style="background: #7D7DFF" | 2003<BR />Morris || style="background: #AAAAFF" | 1950<ref>Salmon, J.T. 1950: A new species of Acrididae (Insecta: Orthoptera) from New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Vol. 78, Part 1, page 69, February 1950</ref><BR />Salmon
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Habitat'''<ref>Species prefer habitat.</ref>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Tussock grasslands || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Dry rocky hillsides/<BR />tussock grasslands || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Dry rocky hillsides || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Tussock grasslands || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Fluvial outwash || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Tussock grasslands || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Alpine lichen fields || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Tussock grasslands || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Scree
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Polymorphism'''<ref>The number of colour morphs known for adults of this species.</ref>|| style="background: #7D7DFF" | Highly cryptic || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Highly cryptic || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Highly cryptic || style="background: #D6D6FF" | 2 || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Highly cryptic || 2
| style="background: #7D7DFF" | Highly cryptic ||  || style="background: #D6D6FF" | 1
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Regions'''|| style="background: #AAAAFF" |[Canterbury](/source/Canterbury%2C_New_Zealand)<BR />[Otago](/source/Otago)|| style="background: #AAAAFF" |[Canterbury](/source/Canterbury%2C_New_Zealand)<BR />[Otago](/source/Otago)<BR />[Southland](/source/Southland%2C_New_Zealand)|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |[Otago](/source/Otago)|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |[Southland](/source/Southland%2C_New_Zealand)|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |[Canterbury](/source/Canterbury%2C_New_Zealand)|| style="background: #7D7DFF" |[Waikato](/source/Waikato)<BR />[Gisborne](/source/Gisborne_Region)<BR />[Hawke's Bay](/source/Hawke's_Bay_Region)<BR />[Manawatū-Whanganui](/source/Manawat%C5%AB-Whanganui)<BR />[Wellington](/source/Wellington)|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |[Otago](/source/Otago)|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |[Southland](/source/Southland%2C_New_Zealand)|| style="background: #D6D6FF" |[Canterbury](/source/Canterbury%2C_New_Zealand)
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Size'''<ref>Size for adult males: Small less than 6 mm; Medium 6-30 mm & Large greater than 30 mm.</ref>|| style="background: #AAAAFF" | Medium || style="background: #AAAAFF" | Medium/large || style="background: #AAAAFF" | Medium || style="background: #AAAAFF" | Medium || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Very small || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Large || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Large || style="background: #AAAAFF" | Medium || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Large
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Status'''<ref>Base on the [New Zealand Threat Classification System](/source/New_Zealand_Threat_Classification_System)</ref>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Not threatened || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Not threatened || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Nationally Critical || style="background: #AAAAFF" | Range Restricted || style="background: #7D7DFF" | Nationally Endangered || Not threatened|| style="background: #AAAAFF" | Range Restricted|| style="background: #AAAAFF" | Range Restricted|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Not threatened
|-
| style="background: #D6D6FF" |'''Wings'''<ref>Species wing length.</ref>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>2–3&nbsp;mm</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>2–3&nbsp;mm</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>1–2&nbsp;mm</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>2–3&nbsp;mm</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>1&nbsp;mm</small>||  || style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>3–4&nbsp;mm</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>3–4&nbsp;mm</small>|| style="background: #D6D6FF" | Micropterous<BR /><small>2–4&nbsp;mm</small>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*''Sigaus'' discussed on [RNZ](/source/Radio_New_Zealand) ''[Critter of the Week](/source/Critter_of_the_Week),'' [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201835363/critter-of-the-week-the-sigaus-grasshopper 3 March 2017]
* [http://naturewatch.org.nz/taxa/378127-Sigaus Citizen science observations] in [iNaturalist](/source/iNaturalist)

{{Taxonbar|from=Q10667524}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Acrididae of New Zealand
Category:Acrididae genera
Category:Endemic insects of New Zealand

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sigaus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigaus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigaus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.