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 miranda is found along the east coast of South Africa, with an isolated record from Tanzania, which suggests a potentially large distribution that may extend north of South Africa along the east coast of Africa. However, the area of occupancy of the species is estimated to be no more than 500 km². This species is known from very few specimens and the species has not been collected in the field for almost four decades. 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 miranda is found along the east coast of Africa. It occurs in forest patches in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa, and has also been documented from Tanzania. However, in the absence of additional collecting records outside of South Africa, this outlying record may be viewed with caution. While its extent of occurrence (EOO) is ca 470,000 km², its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be between 48 and 500 km².

Population trend

Trend

Physophorina miranda emerges seasonally, and has been observed from November to February. The population size and trend are not documented for the species. However, the population is considered to be severely fragmented with limited exchange between small and isolated subpopulations. The species has not been collected in the field since 1981. Although extensive surveys have not been conducted outside of South Africa, surveys within South Africa have failed to detect the species in 37 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 distribution, 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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