| Alinjarria elongata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Ensifera |
| Family: | Tettigoniidae |
| Genus: | Alinjarria |
| Species: | A. elongata |
| Binomial name | |
| Alinjarria elongata (Rentz, 1993) | |
Alinjarria elongata, commonly known as the territory imitator, is a species of bush-cricket from tropical northern Australia. The common name is derived from the fact that the species was at first thought to be a member of the genus Hemisaga until it was realised that its unique characteristics warranted placing it in a new genus.
Description
This is a large long-legged bush cricket with short wings. It can be distinguished from Alinjarria jadoni, the only other species in the genus, by the elongation of the male's cerci which have a noticeably larger internal flange. The female's cerci are also distinctive because they curve outwards.
Distribution
This species is found in tropical northwestern Australia, with a range extending from Darwin to Mataranka in the Northern Territory. It is a woodland species, also found in bushes and scrub.
Ecology
Alinjarria elongata is a predator. It has been observed in the daytime in shrubs, tall vegetation and rough grasses, catching insects. In the night-time it has been seen in sorghum crops, feeding on scarab beetles and on other species of bush cricket.
References
- ^ Rentz, David C. (2010). A Guide to the Katydids of Australia. Csiro Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-643-09554-0.
- Rentz, David (31 May 2014). "A tale of two Katydids". BunyipCo. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Alinjarria elongata | |