Schizodactylidae Explained

Schizodactylidae is a family of orthopteran insects found in Asia and southern Africa, known as dune crickets or splay-footed crickets. They are usually found in desert and sandy areas. Species are predatory, including Schizodactylus inexspectatus.^[1] T. B. Fletcher notes that one captive individual did not feed on any vegetable matter.^[2] Fossils are known since the Early Cretaceous.^[3]

Taxonomy

One extinct and two extant genera in the subfamily Schizodactylinae^[4] are included:

†Brauckmannia Martins-Neto, 2007

• monotypic †B. groeningae Martins-Neto, 2007 Crato Formation, Brazil, Early Cretaceous (Aptian)

Comicus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888

• Comicus capensis Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888 - type species

Schizodactylus

Authority: Brullé, 1835; distribution: mainland Asia

1. Schizodactylus brevinotus Ingrisch, 2002
2. Schizodactylus burmanus Uvarov, 1935
3. Schizodactylus hesperus Bei-Bienko, 1967
4. Schizodactylus inexspectatus (Werner, F., 1901)
5. Schizodactylus jimo He, 2021
6. Schizodactylus minor Ander, 1938
7. Schizodactylus monstrosus (Drury, 1773) - type species (as Gryllus monstrosus Drury)
8. Schizodactylus salweenensis Dawwrueng et al., 2018
9. Schizodactylus tuberculatus Ander, 1938

External links

• Family page with determination key

Notes and References

1. Gökhan Aydin & Andrey Khomutov . 2008 . The biology, nymphal stages, and life habits of the endemic sand dune cricket Schizodactylus inexpectatus (Werner, 1901) (Orthoptera: Schizodactylidae) . . 32 . 427–432 .
2. Fletcher, T. B. (1914) Some South Indian Insects. By Superintendent Government Press, Madras.
3. Heads. Sam. Leuzinger. Léa. 2011-01-26. On the placement of the Cretaceous orthopteran Brauckmannia groeningae from Brazil, with notes on the relationships of Schizodactylidae (Orthoptera, Ensifera). ZooKeys. en. 77. 17–30. 10.3897/zookeys.77.769. 1313-2970. free. 21594149 . 3088056. 2011ZooK...77...17H .
4. Web site: Genus Schizodactylus Brullé, 1835: Orthoptera Species File.