| Cooloola | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Ensifera |
| Superfamily: | Stenopelmatoidea |
| Family: | Cooloolidae |
| Genus: | Cooloola |
| Species | |
|
Cooloola dingo – Dingo monster |
|
Cooloola is a genus of ensiferan orthopterans. It is the only genus in the family Cooloolidae of the superfamily Gryllacridoidea.
Four species are known from this family, all endemic to Queensland, Australia. The name originated from the discovery of the most well-known member of the family, the Cooloola monster (Cooloola propator), in the Cooloola National Park.
Little is known about their life histories, as they lead an almost entirely subterranean existence, but it is believed that they are predaceous towards other soil-dwelling invertebrates.
The Cooloolidae are unusual in the primitive superfamily Gryllacridoidea in that members' antennae are considerably shorter than their body length.