Scree Weta vs South African Prong-Gill Mayfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Scree Weta South African Prong-Gill Mayfly
Scientific Name Deinacrida connectens Adenophlebia auriculata
Order Orthoptera Ephemeroptera
Family Anostostomatidae Leptophlebiidae
Size Body 50-60 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Herbivores Detritivores
Regions New Zealand Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Scree Weta

An alpine giant weta that lives among rocky scree fields at elevations above 1200 meters. It is remarkably cold-tolerant and can survive being frozen solid.

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Did You Know?

It can survive being frozen at minus 5 degrees Celsius by using special ice-nucleating proteins in its blood.

South African Prong-Gill Mayfly

A mayfly endemic to southern African mountain streams. Nymphs have distinctive forked gills used for respiration in oxygen-rich rapids.

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Did You Know?

Its uniquely forked gills are found only in African leptophlebiid mayflies.