''Spinotectarchus acornutus'' is a species 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 ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. It belongs to the

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 ...

, and is the only member of the

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 ...

''Spinotectarchus''. It is commonly referred to as the spiny ridge-backed stick insect.

Description

These stick insects are fairly small, with the body size of females reaching up to 4.8 cm long. Males have a body size of 3.5 to 3.7 cm long. Both males and females come in various colour forms and patterns, ranging from brown to green. Females are bigger, and have a more ridged appearance to their dorsal side. All the legs appear serrated, due to the presence of numerous "teeth". Males are smaller and skinnier, appearing only faintly ridge-backed, and with less prominent "teeth" on the legs compared to the female. An interesting character is that the eggs of ''Spinotectarchus acornutus'' are covered in short spines giving it a hairy appearance. This trait is also shared with '' Asteliaphasma'', another genus of endemic stick insects. However, these stick insects can be distinguished by other traits such as the

morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

of their genitalia. Studies have shown that ''S. acornutus'' is unrelated to other stick insect genera in New Zealand.

Habitat and distribution

''Spinotectarchus acornutus'' is restricted to the north of the North Island of

, as well as some offshore islands. The type specimen described by Frederick Hutton in 1899 was collected from

Great Barrier Island Great Barrier Island ( mi, Aotea) lies in the outer Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, north-east of central Auckland. With an area of it is the sixth-largest island of New Zealand and fourth-largest in the main chain. Its highest point, Mount Hobson ...

. It is currently held in the Canterbury Museum in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

. This species inhabits

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

bush and regenerated forest in Northland. They can be most commonly found on ''

Metrosideros perforata ''Metrosideros perforata'', also known as white rata, climbing rata, akatea or Akatorotoro, is one of twelve ''Metrosideros'' species endemic to New Zealand. It is one of three white flowering rātā vines (the others being large white rātā an ...

'' (climbing rata), ''

Dendroconche scandens ''Dendroconche scandens'', synonym ''Microsorum scandens'', commonly called fragrant fern, is a species of fern within the family Polypodiaceae. This species is native to parts of New Zealand and Australia, as well as some offshore islands (Chat ...

'' (fragrant fern), the

epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

'' Collospermum hastatum'', and ''

Dysoxylum spectabile Kohekohe (''Dysoxylum spectabile'') is a medium-sized tree in the Meliaceae family, native to New Zealand. It is found in lowland and coastal forests throughout most of the North Island and also occurs in the Marlborough Sounds in the north ...

'' (kohekohe).

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q14738384, from2=Q10675954 Phasmatodea Phasmatodea genera Monotypic insect genera Insects of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endemic insects of New Zealand

Description

Habitat and distribution

See also

References