Mantophasmatidae is a family of carnivorous wingless insects within the order Notoptera, which was discovered in Africa in 2001. Originally, the group was regarded as an order in its own right, and named Mantophasmatodea, but, using recent evidence indicating a sister group relationship with Grylloblattidae, Arillo and Engel have combined the two groups into a single order, Notoptera.
The wingless insect order Notoptera, a group first proposed in 1915, had been largely unrecognized since its original conception, until resurrected in 2004. As now defined, the order comprises five families, three of them known only from fossils, two known from both fossil and living representatives, and fewer than 60 known species in total.
Oliver Zompro is a German biologist who is credited with the discovery in 2002 of a new suborder of carnivorous African insects, Mantophasmatodea or "gladiators", which was originally considered to be a new insect order but was later relegated to subordinal status.
Tanzaniophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is a monotypic genus consisting of the species Tanzaniophasma subsolana, which is endemic to Tanzania.
Praedatophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is a monotypic genus consisting of the species Praedatophasma maraisi, which is endemic to southern Namibia.
Tyrannophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is a monotypic genus consisting of the species Tyrannophasma gladiator, which is endemic to the Brandberg Massif of central Namibia.
Sclerophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is a monotypic genus consisting of the species Sclerophasma paresisense.
Hemilobophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is a monotypic genus consisting of the species Hemilobophasma montaguense, which is endemic to Western Cape Province, South Africa. Its type locality is an area near Montagu.
Kuboesphasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is a monotypic genus consisting of the species Kuboesphasma compactum.
Namaquaphasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is a monotypic genus consisting of the species Namaquaphasma ookiepense, which is endemic to Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Its type locality is Ookiep.
Mantophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It contains 4 species, all of which are endemic to Namibia.
Austrophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It contains 3 species that are endemic to Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Karoophasma is a genus of insects in the family Mantophasmatidae. It contains 2 species that are endemic to western South Africa.
Mantophasma gamsbergense is a species of insect in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is endemic to Namibia.
Mantophasma kudubergense is a species of insect in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is endemic to Namibia.
Mantophasma zephyra is a species of insect in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is endemic to Namibia.
Austrophasma caledonense is a species of insect in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is endemic to western South Africa, where it is known only from near Caledon and from the Kogelberg in Western Cape Province.
Austrophasma gansbaaiense is a species of insect in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is endemic to western South Africa, where it is only known from near Gansbaai in Western Cape Province.
Karoophasma biedouwense is a species of insect in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is endemic to the Biedouw Valley of Western Cape Province, South Africa, in a restricted area that includes the settlements of Biedouw, Driefontein, and Wolfdrif.
Karoophasma botterkloofense is a species of insect in the family Mantophasmatidae. It is endemic to Northern Cape Province, South Africa, in a restricted area that encompasses the Botterkloof Pass and the settlement Calvinia.
