Gromphadorhini

Gromphadorhini
Gromphadorhina oblongonota
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Subfamily: Oxyhaloinae
Tribe: Gromphadorhini
Genera

Aeluropoda
Ateloblatta
Elliptorhina
Gromphadorhina
Leozehntnera
Princisia

Gromphadorhini, the hissing cockroaches, is a tribe of large, flightless cockroaches comprising 20 known species in six genera, all but one from the island of Madagascar where they inhabit wood, leaf litter or rocky crevices in forest or woodland; the one exception, Elliptorhina lefeuvri, being from Europa Island off the coast of Madagascar.[1][2] Many of the species are popular in the pet trade.[3]

Their common name, hissing cockroaches, refers to them being capable of producing sound by forcing air through their abdominal spiracles. Species in this tribe typically range from about 3.5 to 10 cm (1.5–4 in) in length, and the largest, Gromphadorhina and Princisia, are some of the world's largest cockroaches.[2][3][4] Despite their size, 9 of the 20 known species of hissing roaches were not recognized until their scientific descriptions in 1973.[5]

As pets

Members of at least four of the genera (Aeluropoda, Elliptorhina, Gromphadorhina, and Princisia) are regularly kept as exotic pets. Although G. portentosa is considered the best known, and most popular pet, this is debatable since G. oblongonota and G. picea (along with hybrids) are commonly confused with it by pet dealers.[3][6]

References

  1. ^ "Tribe Gromphadorhini". Cockroach Species File. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b Delfosse, E. (2006). "Sur la taxinomie, la répartition et la biologie des Blattes souffleuses de Madagascar des genres Elliptorhina van Herrewege, 1973; Gromphadorina Brunner, 1865 et Princisia van Herrewege, 1973 (Insecta : Blattodea : Blaberidae)". Le Bulletin d'Arthropoda. 30 (4): 3–32.
  3. ^ a b c Delfosse, E. (2004). "Les blattes souffleuses de Madagascar". Insectes. 153 (4): 19–22.
  4. ^ "Hissing Cockroach". National Geographic. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. ^ C. van Herrewege. 1973. Contribution à l'étude des Blattaria de la faune Malgache. II. Description de huit espèces nouvelles appartenant aux genres Gromphadorhina Brunner v.W. et Elliptorhina gen. nov. Bulletin de la Société Linnéenne de Lyon, 42nd année, Numéro spécial du 150th anniversaire, décembre 1973. 75-103
  6. ^ "Gromphadorhina oblongonota or G. portentosa?". 22 September 2011.