Phobaeticus serratipes

Phobaeticus serratipes
Phobaeticus serratipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Phasmatinae
Tribe: Pharnaciini
Genus: Phobaeticus
Species: P. serratipes
Binomial name
Phobaeticus serratipes
(Gray, 1835)
Synonyms
  • Bacteria acanthopus
    Burmeister, 1838
  • Baculolonga serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Cladoxerus serratipes
    Gray, 1835
  • Pharnacia serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Phibalosoma serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Bactridium grande
    Rehn, 1920[1]

Phobaeticus serratipes (formerly known as Pharnacia serratipes) is a species of stick insect that at one time was the longest known insect, with one female specimen recorded as being 555 mm long[2] - note, however, that this includes the legs fully extended front and rear, and the actual length of the body alone is considerably shorter. This insect is endemic in Malaysia and Singapore.[1] It is a popular species among those who raise stick insects.

The record for longest known insect is now held by a specimen of Phobaeticus chani, at 567 mm held in the Natural History Museum in London.[3] Phobaeticus serratipes is also slightly shorter in body length than one specimen of Phobaeticus kirbyi.

References

  1. ^ a b "Revision of Oriental Phasmatodea: The tribe Pharnaciini Günther, 1953, including the description of the world's longest insect, and a survey of the family Phasmatidae Gray, 1835 with keys to the subfamilies and tribes (Phasmatodea: "Anareolatae": Phasmatidae)". Zootaxa (Auckland, New Zealand: Magnolia Press) 1906: 1–316 pp. Oct 2008. ISSN 1175-5326. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01906p316f.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  2. ^ Seow-Choen, F. (1995). The longest insect in the world. Malayan Nat. 48: 12.
  3. ^ "World's longest insect revealed". Natural History Museum. 2008-10-16. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2008/october/worlds-longest-insect-revealed.html. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 

External links

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