The following
list of mantis genera and species is incomplete and will differ from those derived from older
taxonomic categorizations.
The insect Order Mantodea consists of approximately 2,000 species, of which a majority are in the Family Mantidae. Until recently, only this single family was recognized within the order.
Note that 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.
The "Tree of Life Project" is the primary (but not the only) reference for the taxonomy shown here. 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 common called
Stick Mantises.
Amantis species are native to
Asia and the islands of the
Pacific Ocean.
Ameles is a wide-ranging genus found in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Amorphoscelis species are concentrated in Africa, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Archimantis species are common in Australia and some are called Stick Mantises.
Members of this genus are common known as
Shield Mantises.
Genus Brunneria (Stick 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 genus to which the common name "
Flower Mantis" is applied.
Also know as Giant Grass Mantises, 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.
This genus has a single species of
New World Grass Mantis.
The two members of this genus are commonly known as
Bark Mantises.
Genus Hierodula (Giant Asian Mantises)
The Giant Asian Mantis genus Hierodula contains numerous species and has a range that stretches from India to Hawaii. While lacking the peculiar ornamentation or highly-specialized mimicry of many other mantises in wide cultivation, Hierodula species remain popular for their sheer size and ease of care.
Members of this genus are known collectively as African Stick Mantises.
Hymenopus species are common called
Orchid Mantises. With their pink,
flower-like coloration and success at breeding in captivity, it has been said that members of this genus are "easily the most well-known and popular mantis pet in the world.
Litaneutria, a genus of
Ground Mantises, is native to
North America.
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.
Boxer Mantises are within this genus.
Paratoxodera is a genus of
Stick Mantises.
This genus has been referred to as the Boxer Bark Mantises.
Species of
Unicorn Mantis are within this genus.
This genus has a species of
Shield Mantis.
This genus has one species of
Twig Mantis popular in captivity.
This genus contains several species of
Flower Mantises.
Some species within this genus are known as
Unicorn Mantises or
Stick Mantises.
This genus is named for its similarity to genus
Yersiniops.
Rhombodera is a large genus of
Shield Mantises.
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 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.
There are native Tenodera in Asia 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 common called
Ground Mantises. Genus
Pseudoyersinia is similar.
Some members of this genus go by the common name Unicorn Mantis.
Families
According to most recent taxonomy, all genera of mantis now belong to one of the following families:
See also
References