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Reinstatement of the New Zealand cave wētā genus Miotopus Hutton (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) and description of a new species

Josephine L. FITNESS, Mary MORGAN-RICHARDS, Danilo HEGG & Steven A. TREWICK

en European Journal of Taxonomy 2018 (468) - Pages 1-24

Published on 18 October 2018

Comparison of morphological and genetic data from New Zealand forest cave wētā suggests we should recognise the genus Miotopus proposed by Hutton (1898). A new species within this genus is described (Miotopus richardsi sp. nov.). Both Miotopus diversus (Hutton, 1898) and Miotopus richardsi sp. nov. are common in native forests and widespread in New Zealand. Here we provide their known distributions and key traits.

Keywords:
Cave wētā, cave cricket, Miotopus, Pleioplectron, Rhaphidophoridae.
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