CR

Morogoro Pretty Grasshopper

Acanthothericles bicoloripes

Unknown

Overview

The Morogoro pretty grasshopper is a species of thericleid orthopteran that is endemic to lowland and submontane rainforests around Morogoro in Tanzania. It has not been recorded since 1939 and is possibly extinct. If it is still extant, it is threatened by deforestation and conversion to agricultural land.

Acanthothericles bicoloripes faces severe population decline due to extensive habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range. The species' specialized ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to forest fragmentation, while invasive plant species alter the microhabitat conditions essential for its survival. Climate change compounds these pressures by shifting temperature and moisture regimes beyond the species' tolerance thresholds.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits specialized microhabitats within tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems, typically requiring specific moisture and temperature conditions found in undisturbed forest understory environments. It shows strong preference for areas with particular vegetation associations and soil characteristics that support its ecological niche.

Forest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· major

Threatened in Tanzania

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Panicum pinifolium

Unknown
VU

Aidia abeidii

Unknown
EN

Meineckia stipularis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Morogoro Pretty Grasshopper classified as Critically Endangered?
Morogoro Pretty Grasshopper is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Acanthothericles bicoloripes faces severe population decline due to extensive habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range. The species' specialized ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to forest fragmentation, while invasive plant species alter the microhabitat conditions essential for its survival. Climate change compounds these pressures by shifting temperature and moisture regimes beyond the species' tolerance thresholds.
Where does Morogoro Pretty Grasshopper live?
Morogoro Pretty Grasshopper occurs in Tanzania. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Morogoro Pretty Grasshopper?
The main threats to Morogoro Pretty Grasshopper are 2.1, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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