The Thericleidae are a family of grasshoppers within the order Orthoptera and superfamily Eumastacoidea. They have exceptionally stubby antennae even for the Caelifera, with most species having a characteristic "horse-headed" look in profile.
The family occurs in Africa, most members living in small trees and shrubs rather than forbs or grasses.
The type genus is Thericles Stål, 1875. They are obscure insects, not well known to the public, but nonetheless have a few common names, including "monkey grasshoppers", whether because of the head shape, or because they are very agile in leaping about among the twigs of the trees they inhabit, is not clear. They also are called "bush hoppers", a name they share with the closely related Euschmidtiidae.
Subfamilies and selected genera Afromastacinae Descamps, 1977 Afromastax Descamps, 1977 Clerithes Bolívar, 1914 Barythericleinae Descamps, 1977 (monotypic) Barythericles Descamps, 1977 Chromothericleinae Descamps, 1977 Acanthothericles Descamps, 1977 Chromothericles Descamps, 1977 Dimorphothericles Descamps, 1977 Loxicephalinae Descamps, 1977 (monotypic) Loxicephala Descamps, 1977 Plagiotriptinae Bolívar, 1914 Phaulotypus Burr, 1899 Plagiotriptus Karsch, 1889 Socotrella (insect) Popov, 1957 Thericleinae Burr, 1899 Lophothericles Descamps, 1977 Thericles Stål, 1875 incertae sedis Smilethericles Baccetti, 1997
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