Sphodromantis viridis is a species of praying mantis that is kept worldwide as a pet. Its common names include African mantis, giant African mantis, and bush mantis.
Stick mantis and twig mantis are common names applied to numerous species of mantis that mimic sticks or twigs as camouflage. Often the name serves to identify entire genera such as is the case with:
Grass mantis is a common name mostly given to various species of praying mantis that mimic grass or other slender vegetation. Species to which this name has been applied include but are not limited to:
Oxyothespis dumonti, common name North African grass mantis, is a species of praying mantis in the family Toxoderidae. It is found in Africa.
Sphodromantis belachowski, common name African mantis or African praying mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Africa.
Sphodromantis gastrica, with the common names African mantis or common green mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Africa.
Sphodromantis lineola, common name African mantis or African praying mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Africa sometimes raised in captivity. It may be distinguished from Sphodromantis baccettii by the absence of blue-black spots on its forearms.
Sphodromantis centralis, common name African mantis or Central African mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Africa.
Sphodromantis is a large genus of praying mantises concentrated in Africa, sometimes considered a synonym of the genus Hierodula: from the same tribe, Paramantini. Outside their range especially, many share the common name African Mantis.
Sphodromantis royi, common name Roy's mantis, is a species of praying mantis found in West Africa.
Sphodromantis baccettii is a species of praying mantis found in Kenya and Somalia. It may be distinguished from Sphodromantis lineola by the presence of blue-black spots on its forearms.
Orthodera novaezealandiae, known as the New Zealand mantis or the New Zealand praying mantis, is a species of praying mantis which is, as both the scientific name and common names suggest, indigenous and endemic to New Zealand.
Bark mantis is a common name given to various species of praying mantis, especially those with cryptic camouflage resembling tree bark. Examples include:
Acanthops centralis is a species of praying mantis in the family Acanthopidae and is one of many mantis from various genera that resembles a dead leaf.
Oxyothespis is a genus of praying mantis in the family Toxoderidae. Members of this genus have been called grass mantises.
Miomantis abyssinica is a species of praying mantis in the family Miomantidae, native to North Africa.
Miomantis binotata, the African pinstripe mantis, is a small species of praying mantis found in Africa that are bred in captivity in the pet trade.
Miomantis paykullii is a species of praying mantis in the family Miomantidae.
Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They have triangular heads with bulging eyes supported on flexible necks. Their elongated bodies may or may not have wings, but all Mantodea have forelegs that are greatly enlarged and adapted for catching and gripping prey; their upright posture, while remaining stationary with forearms folded, has led to the common name praying mantis.
