Texas is not only famous for its music but also for its wildlife. A recent study has revealed seven new species of grasshoppers from the central region of the state, which is known for its high biodiversity.
Two of these species have been named after Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker, two legendary musicians who have a strong connection to Texas.
The study also describes a new genus of grasshoppers that is distinct from the rest of the group. These findings highlight the importance of conserving the natural heritage of Texas and its rich and diverse fauna.
A tribute to Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker
(Photo : NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
The central region of Texas is a known hotspot of biological wonders. For the last five years, Dr. JoVonn Hill, an Assistant Professor and Director of the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM) at Mississippi State University, and his colleagues have made scientific expeditions to the area that have now revealed an extraordinary find, as per Phys.org
The team uncovered seven previously unknown flightless grasshopper species, six of them endemic to the Edwards Plateau, which underscores the region's extraordinary biodiversity.
With this discovery, Dr. Hill is paying tribute to two iconic musicians. In recognition of the "immense contributions" of Texas legends Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker, he has named two of these flightless grasshopper species after them.
"Melanoplus nelsoni and Melanoplus walkeri immortalize the enduring contributions of these legendary musicians and their connection to Texas," he says.
"After these last few summers [of field studies], just like Mr. Nelson, we too have a little Texas in our souls," he writes in his study, which was just published in the journal ZooKeys. On Melanoplus walkeri, he writes.
Walker's songs such as Hill Country Rain, Leavin' Texas, and Sangria Wine brought me and my field team joy while traveling between field sites and added to the amazing ambiance of the Edwards Plateau.
In fact, the artist recorded his most influential album not far away from the spot where the new species was discovered.
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A rich and diverse fauna
The new grasshopper species belong to the genus Melanoplus, which is one of the most diverse groups of grasshoppers in North America.
They are characterized by their colorful and striking patterns, which help them blend in with their surroundings and avoid predators.
The new species are also flightless, meaning they have reduced or absent wings that prevent them from flying. This trait is often associated with habitat specialization and endemism.
The Edwards Plateau is a unique geological formation that covers about 31 million acres in central Texas. It is home to many endemic plants and animals that are adapted to its limestone hills, springs, caves, and streams.
The region is also threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, urbanization, invasive species, and climate change.
Dr. Hill and his team hope that their discovery will raise awareness about the importance of conserving this biodiversity hotspot and its rich and diverse fauna.
A new genus of grasshoppers
The new grasshopper species belong to the genus Melanoplus, which is one of the most diverse groups of grasshoppers in North America, as per Oxford Academic.
They are characterized by their colorful and striking patterns, which help them blend in with their surroundings and avoid predators.
The new species are also flightless, meaning they have reduced or absent wings that prevent them from flying. This trait is often associated with habitat specialization and endemism.
However, not all of the new species fit into the existing classification of Melanoplus. One of them, Melanoplus foxi, was found to be so different from the other members of the genus that it warranted the recognition of a new genus within the subfamily Melanoplinae.
The new genus, Foxius, was named after Dr. Richard Fox, a professor at Lander University and a mentor of Dr. Hill.
Foxius foxi is distinguished by its unique morphology, such as its elongated head, large eyes, and long antennae. It is also the only species in the study that is not endemic to the Edwards Plateau, but rather occurs in several locations in Texas and Oklahoma.
The discovery of Foxius foxi highlights the need for further taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the Melanoplinae, which is one of the most speciose and complex groups of grasshoppers in the world. The authors suggest that more molecular and morphological data are needed to resolve the resolve the evolutionary relationships and biogeographic history of this group.
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