Anostostomatidae
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2008-06-09T10:49:51Z
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{{Taxobox
| name = Anostostomatidae
| image = knights.weta.750pix.jpg
| image_caption = Poor Knights giant weta, ''[[Deinacrida fallai]]''<br>Overall length 20 [[centimetre|cm]] (8 [[inch|in]])
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[Orthoptera]]
| subordo = [[Ensifera]]
| superfamilia = [[Stenopelmatoidea]]
| familia = '''Anostostomatidae'''
| familia_authority = Saussure, 1859
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies and genera
| subdivision = See text.
}}
'''Anostostomatidae''' is a family in the order [[Orthoptera]]. It is sometimes referred to as '''Mimnermidae''' or '''Henicidae''' in some taxonomies, and common names include '''King crickets''' in [[South Africa]], and '''wetas''' in [[New Zealand]]. They are believed to be most closely related to the [[Jerusalem cricket]]s of [[North America]]. Prominent members includes the [[Parktown prawn]] of South Africa, and the [[giant weta]]s of New Zealand. The [[cave weta]]s belong to another [[family (biology)|family]], the [[Rhaphidophoridae]].
==General characteristics==
[[Image:Defensive tree_weta.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Defensive male Wellington tree weta]]
By virtue of their ability to cope with variations in temperature, members of the Anostostomatidae family can be found in a variety of environments including alpine, forests, grasslands, shrub lands and urban gardens. They are [[nocturnal]] and flightless, with a diet consisting of leaves, other insects, fungi, dead animals, and fruit. A giant weta species is probably the heaviest insect in the world.
==Taxonomy and evolution==
Members of the Anostostomatidae family have survived virtually unchanged since the [[Mesozoic]] era, possibly because they had few native predators. In this respect, they can be compared with the [[tuatara]]. Fossilized weta have been found in Australia, although they do not exist there now. This proves they were present in ancient [[Gondwanaland]] before New Zealand separated from it
==The wetas of New Zealand==
New Zealand had no native land mammals apart from native bats before humans arrived. Ecological niches that were filled by mammals in other parts of the world were filled by native fauna in New Zealand. The weta’s place in the [[ecosystem]] is comparable to that held by mice and other [[rodent]]s elsewhere in the world. For example, like their foreign mouse equivalents, they are hunted by an owl: in this case the [[Southern Boobook|Morepork]], New Zealand’s only surviving native [[owl]]. Weta also pass seeds of some plant species through their digestive tracts unharmed, thus acting as seed dispersers. It is yet to be seen how decreases in weta populations are affecting native plant species that rely on the weta's help.
Weta can bite. Tree weta bites are particularly common. They can also inflict painful scratches with the potential of [[infection]]. Weta are known to arc their hind legs into the air in warning to foes.
[[image:TreeWeta female 03 col corr.jpg|thumb|Tree weta]]
===The five weta groups in New Zealand===
* [[Deinacrida|Giant wetas]]
* [[Hemideina|Tree wetas]]
* [[Motuweta|Tusked wetas]] and [[Anisoura|Northland tusked wetas]]
* [[Hemiandrus|Ground wetas]]
* [[Rhaphidophoridae|Cave wetas]] (in another family)
==Subfamilies and genera==
[[Image:Cratomelus_sp.jpg|thumb|Chilean King Cricket, ''Cratolemus'' sp.]]
* Subfamily [[Anostostomatinae]] <small>Saussure, 1859</small>
** ''[[Aistus]]''
** ''[[Anabropsis]]''
** ''[[Anostostoma]]''
** ''[[Apotetamenus]]''
** ''[[Apteranabropsis]]''
** ''[[Bochus]]''
** ''[[Borborothis]]''
** ''[[Brachyporus]]''
** ''[[Carcinopsis]]''
** ''[[Cnemotettix]]''
** ''[[Cratomelus]]''
** ''[[Exogryllacris]]''
** ''[[Glaphyrosoma]]''
** ''[[Gryllotaurus]]''
** ''[[Hemiandrus]]'' Ground wetas
** ''[[Henicus]]''
** ''[[Hydrolutos]]''
** ''[[Hypocophoides]]''
** ''[[Hypocophus]]''
** ''[[Leponosandrus]]''
** ''[[Libanasa]]''
** ''[[Libanasidus]]'' King crickets
** ''[[Licodia (genus)|Licodia]]''
** ''[[Lutosa]]''
** ''[[Motuweta]]'' Tusked wetas
** ''[[Nasidius]]''
** ''[[Neolutosa]]''
** ''[[Onosandridus]]''
** ''[[Onosandrus]]''
** ''[[Papuaistus]]''
** ''[[Paterdecolyus]]''
** ''[[Penalva]]''
** ''[[Spizaphilus]]''
* Subfamily [[Deinacridinae]]
** ''[[Anisoura]]'' Tusked wetas
** ''[[Deinacrida]]'' Giant wetas
** ''[[Gryllacropsis]]'' (from India, only tentatively assigned to Deinacridinae)
** ''[[Hemideina]]'' Tree wetas
* Subfamily [[Leiomelinae]]
** ''[[Leiomelus]]''
==References==
* [http://osf2x.orthoptera.org/osf2.3/OSF2X2Frameset.htm Orthoptera Species File Online]
* [http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/haaramo/metazoa/protostoma/arthropoda/Insecta/Orthopterodea/Orthoptera/Stenopelmatoidea/Anostostomatidae.html]
[[Category:Orthoptera]]
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