Red List of South African Species

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Vulnerable (VU)
B1ab(iii)
Assessors: Corinna Bazelet Piotr Naskrecki
Reviewers: Axel Hochkirch Luc Willemse

Rationale

The threat status of the Drakensberg Grass False Shieldback (Paracilacris lateralis) is Vulnerable under criterion B1. Its extent of occurrence is relatively small (~12,000 km2), it has only been recorded in four locations, and the quality of its habitat is expected to be in decline due to grazing pressure, cultivation, invasive alien plants and climate change. A large proportion of this species' distribution occurs in Golden Gate and Royal Natal National Parks and in Giant's Castle Game Reserve, providing the species with some protection. The entire geographic range of this species falls within sensitive mid to high altitude grasslands of the Drakensberg Mountains. While much of this habitat type is protected, a few extreme and unforeseen events may prove detrimental to the survival of the species. Furthermore, the exclusive presence of this species within protected areas indicates that the species may only be able to survive within pristine habitats.

Distribution

The Drakensberg Grass False Shieldback is endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains of Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.

Population trend

Trend

No information on population sizes or trends is available.

Threats

The principal threat to this species is habitat destruction by cultivation, development or alien species invasion. Furthermore, the presence of this species at mid to high altitudes makes it particularly prone to global warming since the species will not be able to move to higher elevations and colder climates.

Uses and trade

This species is not utilized.

Conservation

Most of the known locations of this species fall within protected areas, Golden Gate and Royal Natal National Parks, and Giant's Castle Game Reserve.

References 

[@electronic{58124,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3},
 year = {2014}
}
,@inbook{20633282,
 address = {Uppsala},
 author = {Brink  and Rudebeck },
 booktitle = {Orthoptera Ensifera},
 editor = {Chopard, L.},
 pages = {266--300},
 publisher = {Almqvist & Wiksell},
 title = {South African Animal Life (Results of the Lund University Expedition in 1950–1951)},
 year = {1955}
}
,@article{20638495,
 author = {Naskrecki, P.},
 journal = {African Journal of Zoology},
 number = {2},
 pages = {159--193},
 title = {Systematics of the southern African Meconematinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)},
 volume = {110.0},
 year = {1996}
}
,,]
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