Ripipterygids are restricted to the Neotropics. They can be found from southern Mexico south to central South America. Like tridactylids, they are typically found in riparian areas, on bare soil, sand, and mud, as well as on rocks, and – in some species – low vegetation in, near, or above water.
Ripipterygids are small, often dark-colored, cricket-like orthopterans, between 3 and 14 mm in length. They closely resemble the related tridactylids. Like tridactylids, they have greatly expanded hind femora, and can swim and jump from the surface of water. They can be distinguished from tridactylids by their uninflated tibiae on the middle pair of legs, unsegmented cerci, rows of comblike teeth on the epiproct, and setae at the tips of the cerciform lobes on the paraproct, as well as through characters of the genitalia.
Species in the genus Ripipteryx are typically black or dark brown and often metallic, many are boldly colored or strikingly patterned, with sharply contrasting white, yellow, and/or red markings. Members of the genus Mirhipipteryx are typically smaller and more drably colored.
Source: Wikipedia
Subfamily Ripipteryginae
Ripipteryx limbata (Mindo, Ecuador)
