Gymnobathra ambigua

Gymnobathra ambigua is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Gymnobathra ambigua

Nationally Critical (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Oecophoridae
Genus:
Gymnobathra
Species:
G. ambigua
Binomial name
Gymnobathra ambigua
(Philpott, 1926)
Synonyms
  • Barea ambigua Philpott, 1926

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1926 under the name Barea ambigua using male specimens collected by Mr. W. Heighway at Horseshoe Lake, Christchurch in November and December.[2][3] In 1988 John S. Dugdale assigned Barea ambigua to the genus Gymnobathra.[4] The taxonomy of this species continues to be debated, with some experts regarding Gymnobathra ambigua as being a synonym of G. thetodes and arguing that Dugdale wrongly synonymised G. thetodes under G. dinocosma.[5] The holotype specimen is held at the Canterbury museum.[4]

Distribution

G. ambigua is endemic to New Zealand.[6][7] Specimens have been collected at Spreydon and Bottle Lake in Christchurch.[8][9] This species has also been found at Riccarton Bush.[10]

Conservation Status

This species has the "Nationally Critical" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1] It is regarded as sparse and data poor.[1]

References
  1. Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). "Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 6.
  2. Philpott, Alfred (1926). "New Zealand Lepidoptera: notes and descriptions". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 56: 387–399.
  3. Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 289.
  4. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 92. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  5. Patrick, Brian (2014). "Conservation status of five data deficient moth taxa: Epichorista lindsayi, "Cnephasia" paterna, Stathmopoda endotherma, Gymnobathra ambigua and Scythris "stripe"". The Weta. 48: 15–35.
  6. "Gymnobathra ambigua (Philpott, 1926)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  7. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom Animalia: Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, Ichnofossils. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 462. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  8. "Gymnobathra ambigua". Auckland War Memorial Museum. 22 November 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  9. "Gymnobathra ambigua". Auckland War Memorial Museum. 22 November 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. Shadbolt, Antony B. (23 September 2014). Christchurch District Plan Site of Ecological Significance Riccarton Bush (PDF) (Report). Retrieved 10 December 2018.


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