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Endemic grasshoppers from the Mascarene Islands: a critically endangered island fauna

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Abstract

Threats to the endemic grasshopper fauna of the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Rodrigues, and La Réunion), in the South Western Indian ocean are examined. Most endemic species were previously only known from very old type specimens lacking locality data. All were found again, and their precise distribution and habitat are given for the first time. The species Pyrgacris relictus Descamps, 1968, only known from the holotype and believed to be extinct, is rediscovered in a 0.4 km2 locality, but is under serious threat as its only habitat has been strongly modified during the past months. All Mascarene endemic grasshoppers are critically endangered. The total area of occupancy per species ranges between a few hectares and 5 km2, most species occurring in five or less locations. Mascarene grasshoppers rank among the most threatened Caelifera of known status in the world. However, most of their localities are included in a protected area, leaving hope to preserve these species, providing suitable conservation schemes are conducted.

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Acknowledgments

I thank the National Parks and the forestry services of both Mauritius/Rodrigues (National Parks and Conservation Service) and La Réunion (Parc National de la Réunion, Office National des Forêts) for giving access to the protected areas, and the Mauritian Wildlife Fundation (MWF, Mauritius and Rodrigues) for logistic support on the field. I am indebted to all the colleagues and friends from Mauritius, Rodrigues and La Réunion, who either helped me directly in the field and/or gave precious advices and support for the field work. I thank Axel Hochkirch and Ben Warren for discussions about Mascarene Caelifera. The field trips in la Réunion in 2001 and 2005 have been supported by the Germaine Cousin grant (Société Entomologique de France), and by the CIRAD Réunion, respectively. The collecting trips in Mauritius and offshore islands (2008–2009) have been funded by the BIOTAS project, ANR-06-BDIV-002.

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  1. INCI UPR3212 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 5, rue Blaise Pascal, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Sylvain Hugel

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Hugel, S. Endemic grasshoppers from the Mascarene Islands: a critically endangered island fauna. J Insect Conserv 19, 87–96 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-014-9746-1

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