Reviving the sound of a 150-year-old insect: The bioacoustics of Prophalangopsis obscura (Ensifera: Hagloidea)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270498
• Publication Date: 2022-08-10T17:25:35Z
• Authors: Charlie Woodrow; Ed Baker; Thorin Jonsson; Fernando Monteale...
• Keywords: Bioacoustics; Human echolocation; Tettigoniidae

Determining the acoustic ecology of extinct or rare species is challenging due to inability record their signals hearing thresholds. Katydids and relatives (Orthoptera: Ensifera) offer a model for inferring species, allometric parameters sound production organs. Here, bioacoustics orthopteran Prophalangopsis obscura are investigated. This one only eight remaining members an ancient family with over 90 that dominated landscape Jurassic. The known from single confirmed specimen–the 150-year-old holotype material housed at London Natural History Museum. Using Laser-Doppler Vibrometry, 3D surface scanning microscopy, scaling relationships, it shown P . produces pure-tone song frequency ~4.7 kHz. range distinct but comparable calls Jurassic relatives, suggesting limitation early in insects sonic frequencies (<20 kHz). importance this understanding ensiferan evolution, discussed.