The following list of mantis genera and species is based on the "Mantodea Species File", which is the primary reference for the taxonomy shown here. [1]
The insect order Mantodea consists of over 2,400 species of mantises in about 460 genera. [2] [3] 75 of these genera are in the family Mantidae (the mantids), which formerly was sole family recognized within the order.
In some cases, common names in the English language are loosely applied to several different members of a particular genus, or even for species in various genera. For example, "giant Asian mantis" is used for various members of Hierodula , "dead leaf mantis" may refer not only to various species of Deroplatys , but to all brown mantises that use leaf mimicry for camouflage. "flower mantis" refers to numerous mantises, especially those belonging to or similar to those of genus Creobroter , and so on.
---For citation of common nomenclature and additional references, see individual articles.
Some members of this genus are known as dead leaf mantises or boxer mantises.
Some species within this genus are known as boxer mantises or flower mantises.
Members of this genus are commonly called stick mantises.
Amorphoscelis species are concentrated in Africa, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Archimantis species are common in Australia. Some are called stick mantises.
Members of this genus are common known as shield mantises.
Brunneria, species of which are known as stick mantises, are found in North America, Central America, and South America.
Members of this genus are commonly known as shield mantises, hooded mantises, or leaf mantises.
With their wings adorned with patterns even when at rest, Creobroter, a genus concentrated in Western Asia, is one of the best-known genera to which the common name "flower mantis" is applied.
Also known as giant grass mantises, these are characterised by long slender bodies and sloping, pointed eyes.
Deroplatys, the best-known of the so-called dead leaf mantises, are native to Asia.
Members of this genus are known as long neck mantises or twig mantises.
The two members of this genus are commonly known as bark mantises.
The giant Asian mantis genus Hierodula contains numerous large species and has a range that stretches from India to Hawaii.
Members of this genus are known collectively as African stick mantises.
Hymenopus species are commonly called orchid mantises.
This genus is concentrated in Mexico, Central America, and South America.
The single species in this genus is an ant mantis.
Some members of this genus practice ant mimicry when young and are known as ant mantises. The name grass mantis has also been applied to some species.
Some species within this genus are known as boxer mantises.
Members of this genus have been called grass mantises.
Paratoxodera is a genus of stick mantises.
This genus has a species of shield mantis.
This genus contains several species of flower mantises.
Some species within this genus are known as unicorn mantises or stick mantises.
Rhombodera is a large genus of shield mantises. [11]
Rivetina is a genus containing species of ground mantis.
Sphodromantis is a large genus of mantises concentrated in Africa. Outside their range, many share the name African mantis.
The range of Stagmomantis species includes North America, Central America, and South America.
This is another genus with species sometimes called shield mantises.
Members of this genus may be called bark mantises or ground mantises.
Species of the genus Tenodera are found in Asia, Africa, Australia and North America.
These species are sometimes known as the Asian bark mantises.
Boxer mantis and flower mantis are among the common names used for members of this genus.
This genus is sometimes called American grass mantises.
Members of this genus are commonly called ground mantises. Genus Pseudoyersinia is similar.
Some members of this genus go by the common name unicorn mantis.
According to most recent taxonomy, all genera of mantis now belong to one of the following families: [12]
Mantidae is one of the largest families in the order of praying mantises, based on the type species Mantis religiosa; however, most genera are tropical or subtropical. Historically, this was the only family in the order, and many references still use the term "mantid" to refer to any mantis. Technically, however, "mantid" refers only to members of the family Mantidae, and not the 14 remaining families of mantises. Some of the most recent classifications have promoted a number of the mantid subfamilies to the rank of family, e.g. Iridopterygidae, Sibyllidae, Tarachodidae, Thespidae, and Toxoderidae, while other classifications have reduced the number of subfamilies without elevating to higher rank.
Hymenopodidae is a family of the order Mantodea (mantises), which contains six subfamilies. Some of the species in this family mimic flowers and are found camouflaged among them; these are called flower mantises. Their coloration is aggressive mimicry, luring prey to approach close enough to be seized and eaten.
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.
