Diapheromerinae is a
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
of the
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 ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Diapheromeridae
Diapheromeridae is a family of stick insects ( order Phasmatodea). They belong to the superfamily Anareolatae of suborder Verophasmatodea.
The family contains some huge species, e.g. '' Paraphanocles keratosqueleton'' which can grow to over ...
. They belong to the
superfamily
SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...
Anareolatae
The Euphasmatodea, also known by its junior synonym Verophasmatodea is a suborder of the Phasmatodea, which contains the vast majority of the extant species of stick and leaf insects, excluding the Timematodea. The oldest record of Euphasmato ...
of
suborder
Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and ...
Verophasmatodea
The Euphasmatodea, also known by its junior synonym Verophasmatodea is a suborder of the Phasmatodea, which contains the vast majority of the extant species of stick and leaf insects, excluding the Timematodea. The oldest record of Euphasmatodea ...
.
[PSG (2009)]
The family contains the huge ''
Paraphanocles keratosqueleton'', often discussed under its obsolete name ''Bostra maxwelli'' and known as godhorse or hag's horse in
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...
. It belongs to the typical
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...
of Diapheromerinae, the
Diapheromerini. It grows to over 30 cm (12 in) long and is known for its slow-moving stick-like appearance. In ''A-Z of Barbados Heritage'', the
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
is discussed thus:
Godhorse. The local name of unknown origin for the walking stick insect which may grow to 33 cm. ... Many people are afraid of it, on the grounds that if given a chance, it will crawl into a human ear, though there is no record of any having done so. There is a superstitious belief that the presence of a godhorse around the house means a death will occur at the house. They are harmless to man but are generally disliked and Rev. Hughes common name of Hag's Horse conveys this.[Carrington & Fraser (2003)]
Systematics
Three
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...
s are generally recognized in the Diapheromerinae. These, with some notable genera and species are:
Selected genera:
* ''
Diapheromera'' Gray, 1835
** ''
Diapheromera femorata
The common walkingstick or northern walkingstick (''Diapheromera femorata'') is a species of phasmid or stick insect found across North America. The average length of this species is 75mm (3 in) for males and 95mm (3.7 in) for females. ...
'' – common American walkingstick, northern walkingstick
* ''
Megaphasma'' Caudell, 1903
* ''
Pseudosermyle'' Caudell, 1903
[
Ocnophilini Günther, 1953
# '' Dubiophasma'' Zompro, 2001
# '' Exocnophila'' Zompro, 2001
# '' Ocnophila'' Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907
# '' Parocnophila'' Zompro, 1998
Oreophoetini Zompro, 2001
# '' Dyme (phasmid)'' Stål, 1875
# '' Libethra'' Stål, 1875
# '' Lobolibethra'' Hennemann & Conle, 2007
# '' Ocnophiloidea'' Zompro, 2001
# '' Oreophoetes'' Rehn, 1904
# '' Oreophoetophasma'' Zompro, 2002
]
Footnotes
References
* (2003): "Godhorse". ''In: A-Z of Barbados Heritage'': p. 88. Macmillan Caribbean.
* (2009): Phasmida SpeciesFile &ndash
Diapheromerinae
Version of 28 September 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
External links
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q904995
Phasmatodea
Taxa named by William Forsell Kirby
Phasmatodea subfamilies