Anatolia’s Hidden Orthopteran Lineage: Discovery of Salmanihippus gen. nov. via Integrative Taxonomy

Three populations of a new genus and populations of five Anatolian species of Gomphocerus are examined morphologically using morphometric analysis (Canonical Discriminant Function Analysis, CDF). The phylogenetic relationship between the new genus and the morphologically similar genera of Gomphocerus, Gomphocerippus, and Aeropedellus are assessed using the mitochondrial COI and Cyt-b gene sequences. Additionally, the bioacoustics of the three populations of the new genus are compared with previous bioacoustic descriptions of the related Gomphocerinae genera.

The morphometric data based on the eigenvalue criterion (eigenvalue> 1) 31 morphometric variables are grouped under seven distinct factors. The morphometric analysis clearly separates the new genus from Gomphocerus acutus and G. hemipterus by Function 2 and from G. eyluldenizi, G. turcicus, and G. transcaucasicus by Function 1. Bioacoustics data demonstrate a unique calling song pattern of the new genus, which clearly differs from those of its related genera.

The morphological, bioacoustic, and genetic data support the description of a new genus within the subtribe Gomphocerini: Salmanihippus gen. nov. The new genus is endemic to the northeastern Black Sea region of Anatolia. The previously known species Aeropedellus turcicus was transferred to a new genus, Salmanihippus turcicus (Karabag, 1959) gen. et comb. nov., and redescribed.

A key to genera of Gomphocerini, necessary illustrations and diagnostic figures are provided. BEAST analysis conducted with 25 sequences (1077 bp) show that the diversification of the genera started in the Miocene (Tortonian) at approximately 9.5 Mya. According to the chronogram, the new genus diverged from its closest relative approximately 1.88 million years ago (Ma).

This periodization places the divergence in the early Pleistocene, suggesting that Quaternary climatic oscillations could have played a significant role in the isolation and evolution of this lineage.