The Monte Gordo Grasshopper (Eyprepocprifas insularis) has proved to be a rare and elusive species: its last, and, until now, only sighting was a single specimen found in 1980. This is why researcher Dr. Michel Lecoq declared it extinct in 1996.
After more than 40 years of no records, an exciting discovery happened thanks to a holiday Rob Felix took with his fellow researcher Annelies Jacobs in Cape Verde, the insect's only known location, "to look for birds and other interesting stuff for field biologists like us". Before going on our trip, we looked for information about this peculiar grasshopper that was thought to be extinct for a long time. We were hoping and dreaming that maybe we could find it again.
"During a night walk on our first evening on São Nicolau to a colony of a unique seabird species, the Fea, I stumbled upon a grasshopper sitting on the path. When I looked closer in the torch's light, I immediately recognised its unique appearance. I shouted out loud: it's Eyprepocprifas! To my surprise, correct at once because it's not the most easily pronounceable genus name," he says.
In the following days, Rob and Annelies found several other specimens in Monte Gordo Natural Park and its surroundings.
Endemic to the island of São Nicolau, this grasshopper is a "living fossil," meaning it hasn't evolved significantly for millions of years and has few or no living relatives.
"E. insularis must have been there for a very long time and has been able to withstand the severe ecological conditions," the researchers write in their paper , which was published in the Journal of Orthoptera Research.
This montane grasshopper has shown remarkable resilience, surviving in the challenging environment of Cape Verde's islands and enduring periods of intense drought and strong winds that can introduce new species from the African continent.
"The rediscovery of the only endemic brachypterous (short-winged) grasshopper, Eyprepocprifas insularis, on São Nicolau, an island with a volcanic origin dating back approximately five million years, provides significant insight into the island's ecological and evolutionary history," the researchers write.
They say this rediscovery is a crucial first step toward the insect's conservation: as a threatened species restricted to a small area, E. insularis might actually be closer to extinction than we think. Now that it has been found again, we have the opportunity to take steps to protect this unique species and its habitat.
Research article:
Felix R, Jacobs A, Lecoq M (2025) Rediscovery of the Monte Gordo Grasshopper Eyprepocprifas insularis: An ancient brachypterous species endemic to São Nicolau, Cape Verde (Orthoptera, Eyprepocnemidinae). Journal of Orthoptera Research 34(2): 159-168. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.34.144016
