Neritius abyssinicus Uvarov, 1934

Felix, Rob P. W. H. & Massa, Bruno, 2016, Orthoptera (Insecta: Tettigonioidea, Pyrgomorphoidea, Acridoidea) of Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Bale Mountains National Park and other areas of conservation interest in Ethiopia, Zootaxa 4189 (1), pp. 1-59 : 41-42

Neritius abyssinicus Uvarov, 1934

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:47746 Figure 36 , 37

Material examined. ETHIOPIA: SNNPR, Keffa, Bamboo Forest (2620 m), 20.IV.2015, R.P.W.H. Felix (1Ƌ, RFPC), B. Massa (6Ƌ, 2♀, BMPC) ; Bench Maji , Dembi Forest (1260 m), 14.IV.2015, R.P.W.H. Felix (3Ƌ, 3♀, RFPC), B. Massa (1Ƌ, 4♀, BMPC) ; Keffa , Makira Forest (2370 m), 18.IV.2015, B. Massa (1Ƌ, 1♀, BMPC) ; Keffa , Hana Wetland (2400 m), 19.IV.2015, R.P.W.H. Felix (3Ƌ, 1♀, RFPC), B. Massa (1♀, 1♀ nymph, BMPC) ; Keffa (Chena), Boka Forest (2500 m) 15.IV.2015, B. Massa (1Ƌ, BMPC) ; Keffa , Komba Forest (1860 m), 17.IV.2015, B. Massa (1Ƌ, BMPC) ; Keffa , Gimbo, Gogomma (1720 m), 24.IV.2015, B. Massa (1Ƌ, BMPC) ; Bench Maji , Sheko Forest (1570 m), 13.IV.2015, R.P.W.H. Felix (2Ƌ, 1♀, RFPC), B. Massa (light) (1Ƌ, 2♀, BMPC) ; Keffa , Shorori Wetland (1610 m), 21.IV.2015, R.P.W.H. Felix (1Ƌ, 1♀, RFPC) .

Distribution. According to Jago (1994), N. abyssinicus is known from lower and middle parts of the Lake Abay to the Lake Ziway branch of the Ethiopian Rift Valley and in many localities in the western half of Ethiopia, including the Keffa region.

Habitat. Neritius abyssinicus appeared to be common on bushes and tall herbs along forest edges at lower as well as higher elevations.

Remarks. Comparison of specimens collected at higher elevations (2400–2650 masl) with those collected at lower elevations (1200–1600 masl) revealed a statistical difference in size ( Table 4 ). There is also some difference in overall colour. The legs of highland specimens are reddish, while the lowland specimens have greenish legs ( Figure 37 ).

Figures

FIGURE 36. Neritius abyssinicus, left: ♀, Dembi Forest (1260 m); right: Ƌ, Bamboo Forest (2620 m), Ethiopia. Scale bar represents 1 cm.

FIGURE 37. Altitudinal variation in males of Neritius abyssinicus. Specimens from higher elevations (left) are significantly larger than those from lower altitudes (right) (Table 4) and are slightly differently coloured. Scale bar represents 1 cm.