On Some Song Characteristics in Ephippiger (Orthoptera, Tettigonioidea) and Their Geographic Variation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Some characteristics of the song of a number of Ephippiger (sub)species are compared, in particular the number of syllables in the chirp. Syllable duration appears com- parable in all forms studied. In E. terrestris (with E. t. bormansi and E. t. caprai included) all chirps are monosyllabic, in E. discoidalis 3-(2/5)-syllabic, in E. perforatus 5/6-syllabic and in E. provincialis the chirps are predominantly 3/5-syllabic. In the E. ephippiger diurnus complex a clinal variation exists: in northern locations monosyllabic chirps prevail, in the south of France (Pyr.orient., Aude, Hérault) polysyllabic ones (Fig. 3). Just as in morphometric and allozymic characters, there are continuous transitions between populations from 1/2-syllabic to 5/6/7-syllabic chirps. None of these characters, however, vary along the same geographical lines. Therefore, neither the song structure nor other known parameters can be used to distinguish taxa within the E. ephippiger diurnus complex. E. e. vicheti generally produces polysyllabic chirps, but in this case no clinal varia- tion is apparent. The available data are discussed in the perspective of the function and the phylogeny of the song in the Ephippigerinae.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: