Cooloola (insect)
| Cooloola | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cooloola propator – Cooloola monster | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Hexapoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Ensifera |
| Superfamily: | Stenopelmatoidea |
| Family: | Cooloolidae |
| Genus: | Cooloola |
| Species | |
|
Cooloola dingo – Dingo monster | |
Cooloola is a genus of ensiferan orthopterans. It is the only genus in the family Cooloolidae of the superfamily Stenopelmatoidea.
Four species are known from this family, all endemic to Queensland, Australia. The name originated from the discovery of the best-known member of the family, the Cooloola monster (Cooloola propator), in the Cooloola National Park.
Little is known about their life histories, as they lead an almost entirely subterranean existence, but it is believed that they are predaceous towards other soil-dwelling invertebrates.
The Cooloolid "monsters" are unusual in comparison with other members of the primitive superfamily Gryllacridoidea in that the coolooids' antennae are considerably shorter than their body length.
Further reading
- Grasshopper Country: The Abundant Orthopteroid Insects of Australia, by David C. Rentz. 1995. ISBN 0-86840-063-7
External links
- Species synopses by the Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage
- Orthoptera Species File Online