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Grasshoppers of Zihuatanejo

INFRAORDER ACRIDIDEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids (Order Orthoptera)

-Grasshoppers, Locusts, and Allies (Suborder Caelifera)

-Grasshoppers (Infraorder Acrididea)

-Short-horned Grasshoppers and Locusts (Superfamily Acridoidea)

-Short-horned Grasshoppers (Family Acrididae)

-​Stridulating Slantface Grasshoppers (Subfamily Gomphocerinae)

-Tribe Scyllinini

-Genus Rhammatocerus

-Rhammatocerus salinus


Rhammatocerus salinus is a medium-sized grasshopper within the family Acrididae, primarily native to the arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Its mottled grey, tan, and brown coloration provides exceptional camouflage against mineral-crusted soils. Like other members of the genus Rhammatocerus, it is characterized by relatively long, slender hind legs and a streamlined body that facilitates powerful jumps to escape predators in open terrain.

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Rhammatocerus salinus

Description

  • Rhammatocerus salinus is a medium-sized slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae, subfamily Gomphocerinae, and tribe Scyllinini. It has a slender, streamlined body, relatively long hind legs, short antennae, and fully developed wings. Its mottled grey, tan, and brown colouring provides effective camouflage against dry soil and sparse vegetation.

Range

  • Rhammatocerus salinus is a grasshopper of Mexico and the southwestern United States, particularly associated with dry and semi-arid regions. It occurs in Guerrero and around Zihuatanejo, where it can be encountered in suitable open habitats.

Habitat

  • It favours warm, sunny and relatively dry environments, including grassland, open scrub, savanna, disturbed areas, and sparsely vegetated ground. Its cryptic colouring allows it to blend closely with dry grasses, soil, and mineral-rich substrates.

Diet

  • Rhammatocerus salinus is primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses and other herbaceous vegetation. It consumes leaves and stems of plants growing in the open, dry habitats where it occurs.

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