Distribution of chromosome races of flightless grasshoppers in Southern Australia

    Unlike ordinary winged grasshoppers, flightless grasshoppers of the viatica group (Morabinae) have very limited vagility (capacity for movement). The distribution of various chromosomal races is indicated by dotted lines. The disjunct distribution of some of these races is explained by the fact that, during the Pleistocene glaciations, the gulfs between the various peninsulae were dry land, and Kanagroo Island (below centre) was connected to the mainland. The distribution is consistent with an origin through "stasipatric" speciation,  in which new chromosome mutations have arisen and become fixed within the range of an existing type. (after White 1978).

Text material © 2005 by Steven M. Carr