Acanthoxyla is a genus of stick insects in the family Phasmatidae (tribe Acanthoxylini). All the individuals of the genus are female and reproduce asexually by parthenogenesis. However, a male Acanthoxyla inermis was recently discovered in the UK, probably the result of chromosome loss. The genus is the result of interspecific hybridisation resulting in some triploid lineages and some diploid lineages. The genus is endemic to New Zealand, but some species have been accidentally introduced elsewhere. The genus name Acanthoxyla translates from Greek as prickly stick (acantho = thorn; xyla = wood).
Species The Catalogue of Life lists: Acanthoxyla fasciata (Hutton, 1899) Acanthoxyla geisovii (Kaup, 1866) Acanthoxyla huttoni Salmon, 1955 Acanthoxyla inermis Salmon, 1955 Acanthoxyla intermedia Salmon, 1955 Acanthoxyla prasina (Westwood, 1859) Acanthoxyla speciosa Salmon, 1955 Acanthoxyla suteri (Hutton, 1899)
See also
List of stick insects of New Zealand
References Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D. (eds) (2011). "Acanthoxyla". Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, UK. Accessed 24 September 2012.
External links