Rare grasshopper thought extinct rediscovered after 40 years

Unique to the island of São Nicolau, the insect is a “living fossil” that has shown remarkable resilience, surviving for millions of years.

The Monte Gordo Grasshopper (Eyprepocprifas insularis) has proved to be a rare and elusive species: its last, and, until now, only sighting was a single specimen found in 1980. This is why researcher Dr. Michel Lecoq declared it extinct in 1996.

A photo of a holotype grasshopper, Eyreprocoprizias insularis, labeled with collection details from San Nicolau, Cape Verde, 1980.
Eyprepocprifas insularis, male, holotype. This specimen, collected by the Programme de Recherche Interdisciplinaire Francais sur les Acridiens du Sahel team at São Nicolau, Cape Verde, in Oct. 1980, was the only known for many decades. Scale bar: 1 cm. Photo credit: Christophe Herve, MNHN, Paris.

After more than 40 years of no records, an exciting discovery happened thanks to a holiday Rob Felix took with his fellow researcher Annelies Jacobs in Cape Verde, the insect’s only known location, “to look for birds and other interesting stuff for field biologists like us. Before going on our trip, we looked for information about this peculiar grasshopper that was thought to be extinct for a long time. We were hoping and dreaming that maybe we could find it again.”

“During a night walk on our first evening on São Nicolau to a colony of a unique seabird species, the Fea, I stumbled upon a grasshopper sitting on the path. When I looked closer in the torch’s light, I immediately recognised its unique appearance. I shouted out loud: it’s Eyprepocprifas! To my surprise, correct at once because it’s not the most easily pronounceable genus name,” he says.

Close-up photo of a brown grasshopper perched on textured, reddish-brown rocks.
Eyprepocprifas insularis, male. This endemic to Monte Gordo Natural Park, São Nicolau, Cape Verde, was rediscovered in 2023 after being declared extinct. Photo credit: Rob Felix

In the following days, Rob and Annelies found several other specimens in Monte Gordo Natural Park and its surroundings.

Endemic to the island of São Nicolau, this grasshopper is a “living fossil,” meaning it hasn’t evolved significantly for millions of years and has few or no living relatives.

Habitat of Eyprepocprifas insularis on São Nicolau, Cape Verde. Photo credit: Rob Felix

E. insularis must have been there for a very long time and has been able to withstand the severe ecological conditions,” the researchers write in their paper, which was published in the Journal of Orthoptera Research.

  • A close-up photo of a brown grasshopper perched on vibrant green leaves.
  • A close-up photo of a brown grasshopper with two white stripes along its back resting on a vibrant green leaf.
  • Close-up photo of a brown and tan grasshopper resting on earthy soil with dried plant material.
  • Close-up photo of a dark, textured grasshopper on a rocky surface.
  • Close-up photo of a brown grasshopper perched on a wooden surface.
  • A close-up photo of a brown grasshopper resting on a green leaf.
  • Close-up photo of a brown, textured grasshopper perched on green leaves.
  • A photo of a small, brown grasshopper sitting on a green leaf.

This montane grasshopper has shown remarkable resilience, surviving in the challenging environment of Cape Verde’s islands and enduring periods of intense drought and strong winds that can introduce new species from the African continent.

“The rediscovery of the only endemic brachypterous (short-winged) grasshopper, Eyprepocprifas insularis, on São Nicolau, an island with a volcanic origin dating back approximately five million years, provides significant insight into the island’s ecological and evolutionary history,” the researchers write.

They say this rediscovery is a crucial first step toward the insect’s conservation: as a threatened species restricted to a small area, E. insularis might actually be closer to extinction than we think.  Now that it has been found again, we have the opportunity to take steps to protect this unique species and its habitat.

Research article:

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(2): 159-168. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.34.144016