Empusidae is a family of plant-mimicking mantises, consisting of 10 genera, holding almost 30 species. Unlike many other mantis families, the Empusidae are a monophyletic lineage. Empusidae mantises are ambush predators, with mouthparts adapted to feeding on other insects and small animals. The majority of Empusidae species are distributed throughout Africa, but they are also found in Southeast Asia and in the southern parts of Europe.
Rhombodera is a genus of praying mantises native to Asia and possessing common names such as shield mantis, hood mantis, and leaf mantis because of their extended, leaf-like thoraxes.
Antistia is a genus of mantids in the family Tarachodidae. There are at least four described species in Antistia.
Acanthopidae is a family of mantises consisting of 16 genera in the order Mantodea. The group was first formally split off as a separate family by the German entomologist Reinhard Ehrmann in 2002. In 2016, five genera were moved from Acanthopidae to the newly created family Acontistidae, but this has not been accepted in most recent classifications.
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.
Stenophylla is a genus of praying mantis in the subfamily Stenophyllinae, which is now placed in the family Acanthopidae. It the sole genus of the tribe Stenophyllini.
Charieis is a genus of mantids in the family Tarachodidae. It is a monotypic genus with a single recognised species, Charieis peeli.
Ilomantis ginsburgae is a species of leaf-dwelling praying mantis from Madagascar. It is the first praying mantis species characterised by its female genitalia. It was named after United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for her "commitment to women's rights and gender equality" and for her custom of wearing a jabot, a frilly neckwear which resembles the insect's neck plate.
Tropidomantis is a genus of praying mantis in the family Nanomantidae, with species recorded from Asia and the Pacific islands.
Iridopteryginae is a subfamily of mantids in the family Gonypetidae. There are two tribes, distributed in tropical Asia.
Tropidomantinae is a subfamily of mantids in the new (2019) family Nanomantidae. Within the single tribe Tropidomantini there are six genera, distributed in Asia and the Pacific.
Acontistini is a tribe of neotropical mantids in the superfamily Acanthopoidea, and family Acanthopidae. There are 7 genera and more than 30 described species in Acontistini. In 2016, several genera were moved from Acanthopidae to a newly created family Acontistidae, but this has not been accepted in most recent classifications.
Coptopterygidae is a family of mantids in the order Mantodea. There are at least 2 genera and more than 20 described species in Coptopterygidae.
Photinaidae is a family of mantids in the order Neotropical Mantodea, in the superfamily Acanthopoidea. There are about 11 genera and more than 40 described species in Photinaidae.
Thespinae is a subfamily of mantids in the family Thespidae. There are 16 genera and at least 40 described species: found in Australasia, Central and South America.
Haaniinae is a subfamily of mantids, now placed in the new (2019) family Haaniidae; species can found in Asia.
Nanomantini is a tribe of Asian mantids in the new (2019) family Nanomantidae. There are about 6 genera and 10 described species in Nanomantini.
The Nanomantidae are a new (2019) family of praying mantises, based on the type genus Nanomantis. As part of a major revision of mantid taxonomy, genera and tribes have been moved here, substantially replacing the old family Iridopterygidae.
