Bioacoustics of Neduba sequoia

Distribution. Western slope of the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains between the Kaweah River and Tule River watersheds, in the vicinity of Sequoia National Park. Habitat. Understory of mixed conifer forests, especially in riparian habitats and mesic areas. At the South Fork localities, many adults were feeding on green leaves of mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus ). Singing males at this locality were observed and recorded in young dead cedars at the forest edge. Seasonal occurrence. Adults from late July ( 27-VII-1986 , DJ Burdick, CAS) through August ( 20-VIII-2006 , DB Weissman, CAS). Nymphs from May through mid-June. Stridulatory file. (n = 18) length 2.7–3.7 mm , 152–203 teeth, tooth density 57.5 ± 3.4 (47.5–61.6) teeth/mm. Song. (n = 19) A continuous series of alternating MPT and OPT as in other Sequoia Group species (except N. inversa ). The PTR of 3.0 ± 0.5 s- 1 is significantly faster than N. prorocantans , which is distributed to the south, and is half the rate of syntopic N. duplocantans . PTdc of 75.1 ± 8.7% is significantly higher than all other Sequoia Group species (ANCOVA, P = 3.75×10 -4 ). PTF is 14.3 ± 1.0 kHz. Karyotype. (n = 4) Unique. 2n♁ = 22 ( 2m + 18t + XtYt). T06-12, S06-80, paratopotype. Recognition. This is a plastic species that is difficult to recognize. A higher stridulatory file tooth density (55– 59 teeth/mm) as well as larger body size will separate this species from the lower density (47–52 teeth/mm) of both N. prorocantans distributed to the south and N. duplocantans , with which it is sympatric. To the north, N. inversa has a greater stridulatory file tooth density (64–68 teeth/mm). The song PTR is faster than that of N. prorocantans but half that of N. duplocantans , whereas N. inversa sings with numerous OPT between MPT as in Sierranus Group taxa. The karyotype is unique. N. sequoia inhabits an area between the Kaweah River and Tule River watersheds, a range that it shares only with N. duplocantans .