Latest news with #Eyprepocprifasinsularis
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers stunned after rediscovering thought-to-be-extinct 'living fossil' in natural park: 'An exceptional amount of force was required'
The Miami Herald has reported some good evolutionary news about Cape Verde. A once-declared-extinct insect has been found throughout the mountains on one of its islands. The archipelago nation sits 300 miles off the coast of West Africa and boasts over 2,000 species of known terrestrial fauna, per Visit Santo Antão. Among that number is a new species of grasshopper called a "living fossil" — the Eyprepocprifas insularis or the Monte Gordo grasshopper — originally found in Monte Gordo Natural Park in 1980. Researcher Michel Lecoq discovered a single male but declared the species extinct years later after failing to find another. However, two researchers recorded the presence of this species at high elevations in the mountains, including the first recorded female in 2023. It all happened in the same park as the initial discovery 40 years before. This grasshopper species, which is only on São Nicolau island, stands out with reduced wings highly unlikely to fly, super long legs, and a very thick exoskeleton. The outer skeleton is so thick that researchers noted "an exceptional amount of force was required" to mount specimens. They suggest declaring it vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List — meaning a high risk for extinction in the wild, but not endangered. Why is this species vulnerable? Existing only on a single island means a limited range, not helped by an inability to fly. The Cape Verde archipelago has experienced prolonged droughts and winds blowing elements from the nearby mainland that can threaten its survival, per Bioengineer. Per the Journal of Orthoptera Research study, which marked the rediscovery, "Rain may be absent for several years, causing catastrophic droughts" on the island. As Willy Gonçalves, a Cape Verde farmer, told Africa News, "From 2017 onwards, we began to feel these climate changes more strongly here in Cabo Verde … more pests, more difficulties, and since then everything we've planted has been a struggle." With vegetation losses, humans, animals, and insects seeking habitats and food can be affected, especially herbivores like grasshoppers. Do you think we still have a lot to learn from ancient cultures? Definitely Only on certain topics I'm not sure No — not really Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. However, with conservation efforts like planting native plants, watch lists, wildlife corridors, and new laws, such species have a better chance for survival and removal of such lists. Another species, the rare San Francisco leaf-cutter bee, was spotted for the first time since 1980 by the Tamalpais Bee Lab. The golden lion tamarin is thriving again in Brazil after once only numbering 200. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
'Lost' grasshopper species rediscovered in the wild after 43 years
It was a discovery no one expected—not on a casual night hike, and certainly not after nearly three decades of silence from a species declared extinct. But in 2023, deep in the misty highlands of São Nicolau in Cape Verde, a lost insect made an extraordinary comeback. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Monte Gordo grasshopper (Eyprepocprifas insularis), last seen alive in 1980 and officially declared extinct in 1996, has been found once again—alive and leaping. Dutch biologists Rob Felix and Annelies Jacobs were on a holiday field trip to Cape Verde when their flashlight caught something unexpected: a grasshopper perched calmly on a mountain path. 'On our first evening, we were heading toward a seabird colony when I noticed it sitting on the trail,' Felix recounted. 'Under the torchlight, its features stood out immediately. I shouted, 'It's Eyprepocprifas!'—and somehow, I was right.' In the days that followed, the team found more specimens—males, females, and even nymphs—on the upper slopes of Monte Gordo, a rugged peak that dominates São Nicolau Island. A living fossil on the edge This rediscovered grasshopper isn't just rare—it's one of a kind. Eyprepocprifas insularis is the only short-winged grasshopper species endemic to Cape Verde, and it appears to have undergone minimal evolutionary change for millions of years. Scientists describe it as a 'living fossil', a biological relic from an ancient time. 'E. insularis must have been there for a very long time and has been able to withstand the severe ecological conditions,' noted the study authors in their 2023 findings. Its thick exoskeleton may be an evolutionary response to Cape Verde's harsh drought cycles and high-altitude microclimates, helping reduce water loss and survive in extreme environments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Where it lives: Monte Gordo Natural Park The grasshopper was found exclusively within Monte Gordo Natural Park, a protected highland area on São Nicolau. The species appears to live between 650 and 1,100 meters (2,130 to 3,610 feet) above sea level, favoring northeast-facing slopes—moist, fog-covered zones that receive more humidity than the surrounding arid landscape. This specific habitat—rocky ground, native shrubs like Euphorbia tuckeyana, and scattered fog-fed vegetation—provides the conditions necessary for the insect's survival. However, the area has been altered in the past, with non-native trees such as pine, cypress, and eucalyptus planted across parts of the park. These changes have fragmented the natural vegetation, but pockets of native plant life remain, allowing this rare insect to cling to existence. Tiny territory, big risk Despite the thrilling rediscovery, E. insularis is far from safe. The grasshopper was found only in a very small area—about 12 square kilometers (4.6 square miles)—all within the northern section of the park. Because of this incredibly limited range and the ongoing risk of habitat loss, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now classifies the species as 'Vulnerable.' That status could easily shift to endangered if environmental pressures increase. Behavior and ecology still unfolding Though research is just beginning, early observations show that E. insularis is a powerful jumper, using strong hind legs to leap long distances when startled. The adults are often found sitting quietly on bare ground or rocks, while the nymphs—still largely a mystery—were observed clinging to Asteriscus smithii, a plant native to the region. This could hint at a host-plant relationship that scientists have yet to fully explore. Interestingly, the insect appears to be active both during the day and at night, which may be another adaptation to its unique climate niche.
Miami Herald
29-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Elusive creature — declared extinct decades ago — now rediscovered in Cape Verde
In 1980, researcher Michel Lecoq discovered a new species of grasshopper on Cape Verde's São Nicolau island in Monte Gordo Natural Park. He found a single male specimen, and despite years of searching the archipelago, he never found another. After 1982, Lecoq declared Eyprepocprifas insularis, also known as the Monte Gordo grasshopper, extinct, according to a study published April 24 in the Journal of Orthoptera Research. Nearly 40 years later, in 2023, two researchers rediscovered the species in Monte Gordo Natural Park — the same park where Lecoq discovered it decades earlier, according to the study. They also made the first record of a female of the species, which can be up to twice as large as the males, researchers said. The grasshoppers were found high in the mountains, all at elevations above 2,130 feet, according to the study. The Monte Gordo grasshopper is brachypterous, the study said, which means it has small, reduced wings. These types of wings are often unable to sustain flight, according to experts. Its 'very long hind legs' allow it to jump 'exceptionally far,' researchers said. Researchers said the species is found only on São Nicolau island, which was created by a volcano and is believed to be about 5 million years old, according to the study. The Monte Gordo grasshopper, which researchers call a 'living fossil,' is 'not closely related to known African counterparts,' suggesting the species has evolved in isolation on the island for a long time. Researchers were surprised to discover that the species has an 'extraordinarily thick' exoskeleton. 'Mounting specimens of E. insularis proved quite challenging due to the remarkable difficulty of piercing them with a pin. Surprisingly, an exceptional amount of force was required,' researchers said in the study. The reinforced exoskeleton may be an evolutionary adaption to the island's arid climate where years can pass between rainfall, possibly protecting the grasshopper from excessive water loss or providing enhanced resilience to environmental stress. Researchers recommend the species be designated with vulnerable status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The research team included Rob Felix, Annelies Jacobs and Lecoq.
