Red List of South African Species

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Endangered (EN)
Assessors: Vanessa Couldridge Corinna Bazelet
Contributors: Anja Danielczak
Reviewers: Axel Hochkirch

Rationale

Physophorina livingstonii is found along the east coast of Africa, from South Africa to Uganda. However, despite its wide distribution, the area of occupancy of the species is estimated to be between 72 and 3,500 km², but very likely to below 500 km². Relatively few specimens have ever been collected, and the species has not been collected in the field for over 60 years. While this lack of data may partially reflect the paucity of surveys conducted within much of its distribution, it has also not been detected in parts of its distribution that have been fairly well surveyed. Subpopulations are thus likely to be small and the number of mature individuals is inferred to be declining. Due to the patchiness of its forest habitat, which is threatened by deforestation, the population is also considered to be severely fragmented with limited exchange between subpopulations. It is therefore classified as Endangered (EN). More research is needed on its population trends, distribution, ecology, and threats, and protection measures should be put in place for remaining habitat patches.

Distribution

Physophorina livingstoni is found along the east coast of Africa. Its geographic distribution extends from South Africa in the south, into Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, and as far as Uganda in the north. There is also an outlying and unconfirmed record from Zambia. While its extent of occurrence (EOO) is ca 3.4 million km², its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be between 72 and 3,500 km².

Population trend

Trend

The population is considered to be severely fragmented with limited exchange between small and isolated subpopulations that maybe non-viable. The species has not been collected in the field since 1957. Although extensive surveys have not been conducted in much of its range, surveys in South Africa have failed to detect the species in over 60 years. This indicates that the species is likely to be extremely rare and declining in at least part of its range.

Threats

The main threat to this species is habitat destruction through deforestation.

Uses and trade

This species is not utilised.

Conservation

There are no conservation actions for the species and it is unknown, whether it occurs in any protected area. Research into its ecology, threats and population trend is required.

References 

[@electronic{2573,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-1},
 year = {2018}
}
,@electronic{15431178,
 address = { http://Orthoptera.SpeciesFile.org},
 author = {Eades, D.C., Otte, D., Cigliano, M.M. and Braun, H.},
 title = {Orthoptera Species File. Version 5.0/5.0},
 year = {2014}
}
,@article{100946558,
 author = {Dirsh, V.M.},
 journal = {Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology },
 pages = {325--396},
 title = {Revision of the family Pneumoridae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea)},
 volume = {15.0},
 year = {1965}
}
,]
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