Sigaus of grasshoppers in the tribe Catantopini that isendemic to New Zealand, and all but one species is endemic to the South Island: Sigaus piliferus is the only North Island representative and is the type species. There are eight species in the genus; all are flightless, and many are coloured for camouflage against rocky ground.[2][3] Sigaus minutus and S. childi are threatened with extinction.[4]
The taxonomy of New Zealand endemic grasshoppers was substantially revised by Bigelow in 1967, based mostly on female genitalia.[2] The genus Sigaus is distinguished from other New Zealand Acrididae by the distinctive structures of the internal male genitalia: the epiphallus lophi are saddle-like in shape with the mesal protuberance of the lophus having a smooth, rounded outline.[5] The genus is not however monophyletic with respect to other New Zealand grasshoppers.[6]
Sigaus of grasshoppers in the tribe Catantopini that isendemic to New Zealand, and all but one species is endemic to the South Island: Sigaus piliferus is the only North Island representative and is the type species. There are eight species in the genus; all are flightless, and many are coloured for camouflage against rocky ground. Sigaus minutus and S. childi are threatened with extinction.
