''Acanthoxyla''
is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
stick insect
The Phasmatodea (also known as Phasmida, Phasmatoptera or Spectra) are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick-bugs, walking sticks, stick animals, or bug sticks. They are also occasionally referred to as ...
s in the family
Phasmatidae
The Phasmatidae are a family of the stick insects ( order Phasmatodea). They belong to the superfamily Anareolatae of suborder Verophasmatodea.
Like many of their relatives, the Phasmatidae are capable of regenerating limbs and commonly repr ...
(tribe
Acanthoxylini).
All the individuals of the genus are female and
reproduce asexually
Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes or change in the number of chromosomes. The offspring that arise by asexual reproduction from either unicellular or multicellular organisms inherit the fu ...
by
parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis (; from the Greek grc, παρθένος, translit=parthénos, lit=virgin, label=none + grc, γένεσις, translit=génesis, lit=creation, label=none) is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development ...
. However, a male ''
Acanthoxyla inermis'' was recently discovered in the UK, probably the result of chromosome loss. The genus is the result of interspecific
hybridisation resulting in some
triploid
Polyploidy is a condition in which the cells of an organism have more than one pair of ( homologous) chromosomes. Most species whose cells have nuclei ( eukaryotes) are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, where each set contain ...
lineages and some
diploid
Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectively ...
lineages. The genus is endemic to New Zealand,
but some species have been accidentally introduced elsewhere. The genus name ''Acanthoxyla'' translates from Greek as prickly stick (acantho = thorn; xyla = wood).
Species
The
Catalogue of Life
The Catalogue of Life is an online database that provides an index of known species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. It was created in 2001 as a partnership between the global Species 2000 and the American Integrated Taxonomic Info ...
lists:
* ''
Acanthoxyla fasciata''
( Hutton, 1899)
* ''
Acanthoxyla geisovii''
(Kaup, 1866)
* ''
Acanthoxyla huttoni''
Salmon, 1955
* ''
Acanthoxyla inermis''
Salmon, 1955
* ''
Acanthoxyla intermedia''
Salmon, 1955
* ''
Acanthoxyla prasina
''Acanthoxyla prasina'', the prickly stick insect, is a stick insect in the order Phasmatodea and the family Phasmatidae. It is found throughout New Zealand, although it is less frequently reported than "common" stick insect species. It has bee ...
''
(Westwood, 1859)
* ''
Acanthoxyla speciosa''
Salmon, 1955
* ''
Acanthoxyla suteri''
( Hutton, 1899)
See also
*
List of stick insects of New Zealand
Stick insects in New Zealand are found in a range of different environments, from cold high alpine areas to dry coastal bush. There are currently 23 different species described, from 10 genera . The most common species of the stick insect in Ne ...
References
[Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D. (eds) (2011). "]
Acanthoxyla
'". Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, UK. Accessed 24 September 2012.
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q481696
Phasmatidae of New Zealand
Phasmatodea genera
Taxa named by Boris Uvarov
Phasmatidae