Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Specy

Grasshopper

Insects

Grasshoppers are insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera within the order Orthoptera. They are among the most ancient living groups of chewing, herbivorous insects still alive today, with a fossil lineage tracing back to the early Triassic period, around 250 million years ago. The suborder is closely related to crickets and bush crickets, which together with grasshoppers make up the broader order Orthoptera.

Facts
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Powerful hind legs used to leap away from threats, with shorter front legs used for grasping food. 1
Classification
Diet
Herbivore 1
Scientific Name
Caelifera 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Orthoptera, Taxa
Source Catalogue of Life
Sources
1. Grasshopper - Wikipedia
  • Phylogeny section
    Grasshoppers belong to the suborder Caelifera.
  • Characteristics section
    They have two strong hind legs that propel them in the air to escape predators.
  • Wikipedia article, diet description
    They are amongst what are possibly the most ancient living groups of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic, around 250 million years ago.
View the Source
Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: OrthopteraView the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.