Alpinacris tumidicauda
Alpinacris tumidicauda is a species of grasshopper only known from Otago and Southland, New Zealand. The genus "Alpinacris" is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. "A. tumidicauda" was described in 1967 by Robert Sidney Bigelow, with a type locality of Obelisk () in the Old Man Range A male holotype and paratype are deposited in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers, "A. tumidicauda" has a 2- or 3-year life cycle. The eggs must "overwinter" before they will hatch. Hoppers are found throughout the year, and adult grasshoppers can  be found throughout the New Zealand summer between December and April. The adult "A. tumidicauda" do not overwinter. Distribution and habitat. "Alpinacris tumidicauda" is known only from the Otago and Southland regions of New Zealand. It can be found as far south as Cleughearn Peak and as far north as Mount Aurum "Alpinacris tumidicauda" prefers alpine tussock grasslands between ; it can, however, be found as low as near the Nevis River It is one of three known species of alpine grasshoppers that are found in Fiordland, the other two being "Sigaus homerensis" and "Sigaus takahe". "Alpinacris tumidicauda" has a "sister  species", "Alpinacris crassicauda". There would have originally been only one species of "Alpinacris" in the South Island; however, the Alpine Fault has separated this species over time, so at the present there are two species—"A. tumidicauda" in southeast of the South Island and "A. crassicauda" in the northwest of the island. Species description. "A. tumidicauda" is micropterous (small-winged), with wings measuring between , making this species flightless like most New Zealand grasshoppers. Male body length is ; female body length is . Polymorphism. Four colour morphs are known for adult "A. tumidicauda": green, olive, dark olive and yellow-brown. The most common  colour morph is green, followed by the yellow-brown colour morph. References.