The Matopo Agile Grasshopper is known from a few localities in southern Zimbabwe, eastern Botswana and northern South Africa. The species is affiliated with grassland, miombo forests and Acacia savanna. The major threat to the species is conversion of its habitat into farmland and plantations of exotic trees. However, due to its wide distribution is unlikely to meet the thresholds of a Red List criterion. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern.
Distribution
Amblyphymus matopo has been documented from the north of South Africa, the east of Botswana and the south of Zimbabwe. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is ca 240,000 km².
The species can be locally common (Johnsen 1990), but data on the population trend is lacking.
Threats
A major threat to this species is the replacement of native vegetation by plantations of exotic trees, particularly in the South African part of its range. It might also be affected by the conversion of natural habitat into farmland.
Uses and trade
The species is not utilized.
Conservation
No specific conservation action is in place for this species, but it occurs in Matopos National Park. Research into its distribution, habitat requirements, threats and population trend is needed.
[@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}
}
,@book{116114431,
address = {Aarhus},
author = {Johnsen, P.},
publisher = {Aarhus University},
title = {Acridoidea of Botswana I},
year = {1990}
}
,]
