Rediscovery on São Nicolau: the Monte Gordo grasshopper is no longer considered extinct

After more than four decades without a single confirmed record, it was considered extinct. But in January 2023, Dutch entomologists Rob Felix and Annelies Jacobs made a surprising discovery in Monte Gordo Natural Park on the Cape Verde island of São Nicolau: in the beam of their flashlight, a grasshopper sat on a rocky path—unremarkable at first glance, but with strikingly short wings. Felix recognized it immediately: Eyprepocprifas insularis, a species last documented in 1980 and officially declared extinct in 1996.

The encounter was not an isolated case. Over the following days, the two biologists found additional individuals at a total of six locations—including, for the first time, females and nymphs. This makes it clear: the Monte Gordo grasshopper has survived—hidden away in the fog-shrouded highlands of the park. Despite its comparatively wide distribution within the protected area, it appears to occur only at low densities. To date, there are still no further records on platforms such as iNaturalist or Observation.org.

Its rediscovery has since been scientifically documented and published in 2025 in a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Orthoptera Research. The species was originally discovered in October 1980 by entomologist Michel Lecoq as part of a French research programme (PRIFAS), when a single male specimen was collected. Despite intensive searches, it remained missing for decades thereafter. Its rediscovery now ranks among the few documented cases of an insect species officially declared extinct being found again.

Endemic species with unique characteristics

The Monte Gordo grasshopper is the only known short-winged grasshopper species occurring exclusively on the Cape Verde Islands. Owing to its primitive body plan and isolated evolutionary history, it is described as a “living fossil”. It is also considered the only clearly endemic representative of grasshoppers (Orthoptera) on the archipelago to date.

Morphologically, the species differs markedly from related African grasshoppers, indicating a long period of evolutionary isolation. Its characteristic features include laterally flattened, downward-curved cerci in males—paired appendages at the end of the abdomen that are often species-specific—as well as a distinctive genital morphology.

Particularly striking is the extremely hard and robust body covering (cuticle). During scientific preparation, unusually great force was reportedly required to pin the specimens—an indication of a strongly thickened, water-loss-reducing cuticle, as found in many insects adapted to dry environments.

The Monte Gordo grasshopper is not only of ecological interest but also of high relevance to evolutionary biology. Its isolated development, flightlessness and lack of close relatives make it a potential model organism for studying adaptation mechanisms and the emergence of new species on islands. The current study also provides the first-ever description of the previously unknown female—a significant contribution to the taxonomic documentation of this rare species.

The origin of the species is linked to Ice Age climatic phases, when sea levels were significantly lower and the islands lay closer to the African mainland. Although there was probably no direct land bridge, the grasshopper may have reached the island via natural transport processes—such as wind or driftwood—or through earlier flight capability.

Habitat in the humid montane cloud forest

To date, the Monte Gordo grasshopper has been recorded exclusively at higher elevations of Monte Gordo Natural Park between 650 and 1,100 metres above sea level. It preferentially inhabits cool, fog-rich north-eastern slopes with rocky substrates. These humid microhabitats provide stable conditions with high air humidity and diverse vegetation—ideal prerequisites for the species’ survival.

The life-sustaining fog forms through north-easterly trade winds that condense at higher elevations and supply the area with additional moisture—an essential factor for many endemic species of Cape Verde.

The typical plant community at these sites includes several native species, among them the Cape Verde spurge (Euphorbia tuckeyana), a subspecies of the Cape Verde dragon tree (Dracaena draco subsp. caboverdeana), the aster Asteriscus smithii, and Sideroxylon marginatum, an endemic tree of the sapodilla family. Nymphs of the Monte Gordo grasshopper were particularly frequently observed on Asteriscus smithii—suggesting a possible association with specific host plants, the significance of which has so far been little studied.

The present vegetation is considered a remnant of a once species-rich montane forest that supported a high diversity of ferns, herbaceous plants and presumably specialised fungal communities.

Limited range, high conservation need

The currently known distribution of the Monte Gordo grasshopper covers only around twelve square kilometres in the northern part of Monte Gordo Natural Park. Rediscoveries are concentrated at six documented sites. The actual occupied area (Area of Occupancy, AOO) was calculated at twelve square kilometres, while the potential range (Extent of Occurrence, EOO) varies between four and 35 square kilometres depending on methodology. These estimates are based on a combination of field observations, satellite imagery and a digital elevation model.

This extremely restricted range makes the Monte Gordo grasshopper particularly vulnerable to habitat changes, extreme weather events and human impacts. Despite a certain degree of adaptability, the species’ survival is closely tied to the preservation of suitable, humid microhabitats.

Eyprepocprifas insularis is not yet listed on the IUCN Red List. Based on its limited distribution and known threats, however, the authors of the current study propose classifying the species as “Vulnerable”. Entering the relevant data into the IUCN database (SIS) automatically resulted in the assignment of this threat category.

The researchers also recommend establishing long-term monitoring to track population trends, detect environmental changes at an early stage and systematically evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures.

Causes of decline

The original montane forests of São Nicolau have undergone profound changes over the past 500 years. Deforestation, grazing, the introduction of non-native plant species, repeated fires and erosion processes have caused lasting damage to the natural ecosystem. Of the once species-rich vegetation, only isolated remnants remain today. Even the humid, ecologically particularly valuable north-eastern slopes are in places dominated by large-scale afforestation with non-native tree species such as pines, eucalyptus and cypresses.

It is still unclear which life stages of the Monte Gordo grasshopper are particularly sensitive to these habitat changes. The new study suggests that the decline of certain fungal species as a potential food source may also play a role—a connection that has so far been scarcely investigated. Indeed, the importance of fungi as a food resource for grasshopper species is increasingly coming into focus in ecological research.

Implications for conservation

The rediscovery of the Monte Gordo grasshopper highlights the urgent need for targeted conservation measures in Monte Gordo Natural Park. Ongoing programmes to restore native vegetation and regulate grazing and land use provide an important foundation but should be further expanded. In particular, humid, north-east-facing slopes with near-natural vegetation are considered key refuges for the species and deserve special priority in future conservation efforts—according to the study’s authors.

At the same time, there is considerable need for further research: information on population size, ecology, reproductive biology and specific threat factors remains largely lacking. Comparative studies on other Cape Verde islands—such as Santo Antão—could help identify undiscovered or related populations and improve understanding of the species’ biogeographic history.

Despite the existing risks, the Monte Gordo grasshopper shows remarkable ecological resilience. It has been recorded not only in near-natural habitats but also in partially degraded environments. During the rediscovery surveys, the scientists also documented several previously unrecorded insect species—including three grasshopper species recorded on Cape Verde for the first time. This underscores the high, still largely untapped research potential of the archipelago’s insect fauna.

A look beyond São Nicolau shows that rediscoveries are not isolated cases: in other parts of the world as well, such as in the USA, the grasshopper Appalachia hebardi, once thought extinct, was recently rediscovered—another example of how some species can survive in isolated refuges despite decades of apparent absence.

Source

• 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, 61–72. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.34.144016