IUCN SSC Mid-Atlantic Island Invertebrates Specialist Group

Species

Back • Omocestus simonyi (Krauss, 1892)

Omocestus simonyi (Krauss, 1892)

Purpurarian Grasshopper

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Family: Acrididae
LC Least Concern
IUCN Red List Status:
  • EX
  • EW
  • CR
  • EN
  • VU
  • NT
  • LC
  • DD
  • NE

Countries of Occurrence:
Spain - Canaries

Archipelago(s):
Canaries

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Assessor/s:
Hochkirch, A.

Reviewer/s:
Odé, B. & García, M.

Contributor/s:
Jakobs, D.

Facilitators / Compilers/s:

Assessment Rationale:

The Purpurarian Grasshopper is common on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where it occurs in many open habitats with grass vegetation. Even though the species has a small extent of occurrence (EOO), it is very common throughout its range. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern.

Geographic Range:

The Purpurarian Grasshopper is endemic to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura (Hochkirch 2003, Husemann and Hochkirch 2007). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is c. 4,200 km².

Regions:
Spain - Canaries
Extent of Occurrence (EOO):
4200 (km2)
Area of Occupancy (AOO):
(km2)
Elevation Lower Limit:
0 (m)
Elevation Upper Limit:
600 (m)
Biogeographic Realms:
Paleartic
Presence:
Extant
Origin:
Endemic Canaries
Seasonality:
Resident

Population:

The species is widespread and common on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The population trend is unknown.

Habitat and Ecology

This species is very common in open grassland habitats. Its elevation limit is 0 - 600 m.

Major Threat(s):

Goat grazing is common on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, but the effects on this species remain poorly understood. In some areas the species may be threatened by touristic and urban development. Furthermore, there is still active volcanism on Lanzarote, which may threaten some subpopulations.

Conservation Actions

No specific conservation action is in place for this species, but it occurs in several protected areas throughout its range. More research into its population trend, ecology and threats is required.