IUCN SSC Mid-Atlantic Island Invertebrates Specialist Group

Species

Back • Purpuraria magna López & Oromí, 2013

Purpuraria magna López & Oromí, 2013

Lanzarote Stick Grasshopper

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Family: Pamphagidae
EN Endangered
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. & López, H.

Reviewer/s:
Odé, B. & García, M.

Contributor/s:
Jakobs, D. & Kranz, M.

Facilitators / Compilers/s:

Assessment Rationale:

The Lanzarote Stick Grasshopper (Purpuraria magna) has a limited extent of occurrence (EOO) of ca 400 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 20 km². It occurs at five locations and its population is severely fragmented. The major threat to this species is agricultural land use (goat grazing), and there is a continuing decline in the quality and extent of its habitat as well as the number of mature individuals. The species is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN).

Geographic Range:

The Lanzarote Stick Grasshopper is endemic to Lanzarote (Canary Islands) and the small island of Montana Clara, north of Lanzarote (López et al. 2013). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is c. 400 km² and its area of occupancy (AOO) is 20 km².

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

Population:

The existing subpopulations are extremely small and strongly isolated and the species is highly sedentary (completely flightless). These subpopulations may go extinct with a reduced probability of recolonization, and the population is thus considered severely fragmented. A continuing decline in the number of mature individuals is inferred from the ongoing degradation of its habitat.

Habitat and Ecology

The species is found in Euphorbia vegetation. Females are well camouflaged when resting on stems of Euphorbia, which they also feed on.

Major Threat(s):

The species is threatened by habitat loss due to rural development, agricultural land use (goat grazing) and touristic development. Based upon the threat of goat grazing, the number of locations is five.

Conservation Actions

There are no specific conservation actions in place for this species, but it occurs in the Natura 2000 reserves "Los Volcanes", "La Corona" and "Los Islotes". All remaining habitats need to be managed appropriately to avoid any future declines of the species. Further research on the population size and trend and threats is needed, together with the monitoring of habitat trends.