''Acanthops'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

mantis 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 ha ...

es in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Acanthopidae 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 ('' Acontista'', '' Callibi ...

, containing 20

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

that can be found in Central and South America.

Description

Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the

dead leaf mantis Dead leaf mantis is a common name given to various species of praying mantis that mimic dead leaves. It is most often used in reference to species within genus ''Deroplatys'' because of their popularity as exotic pets. Examples include '' D. d ...

, a common name also used for species in several other mantid genera. The genus name translates from the Greek nouns ''ἄκανθα'' and ''ὅψ'' as "thorn eye", referring to the presence in all ''Acanthops'' species of a shorter or longer conical

tubercle In anatomy, a tubercle (literally 'small tuber', Latin for 'lump') is any round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on external or internal organs of a plant or an animal. In plants A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection ...

on top of each eye. Note that such ocular tubercles also occur in various other mantid genera. ''Acanthops'' species have an unusual degree of

sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...

compared to other mantids. The flightless female resembles a curled dead leaf folded back on itself, and weighs twice as much as the males do. It has reduced wings that can be raised to reveal bright warning colors on the abdomen. The male has long functional wings that resemble a flat or rolled-up dead leaf at rest. When perched, males often assume a posture where the head, grasping legs and

prothorax The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites (exoskeletal plates) are the pronotum (dorsal), the prosternum (ventral), and the propleuron (lateral) on ea ...

add to the

camouflage Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the ...

effect by recreating the appearance of a dead leaf's shriveled petiole and

stipule In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...

Taxonomy

The following species are currently considered valid:https://www.gbif.org/species/1404248 ''Acanthops'' entry in GBIF 1500leafmantis closecropDSC4637 DxO

*''

Acanthops bidens ''Acanthops bidens'' is a species of mantis 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 wor ...

'' Hebard, 1922 *''

Acanthops boliviana ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Chopard, 1916 *''

Acanthops brunneri ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Saussure, 1871 *''

Acanthops centralis ''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. See also *Dead leaf mantis *List of mantis genera and species The following list of man ...

'' Lombardo & Ippolito, 2004 *''

Acanthops coloradensis ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' González, Miller & J Salazar, 2011 *''

Acanthops contorta ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Gerstaecker, 1889 *''

Acanthops elegans ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Lombardo & Ippolito, 2004 *''

Acanthops erosa ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Serville, 1839 *''

Acanthops erosula ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common nam ...

'' Stal, 1877 *''

Acanthops falcata ''Acanthops falcata'', common name South American dead leaf mantis or boxer mantis, is a species of praying mantis in the subfamily Acanthopinae of the family Acanthopidae and is one of many praying mantises from various genera that resembles a ...

'' Stal, 1877 *''

Acanthops falcataria ''Acanthops falcataria'', common name South American dead leaf mantis, is a species of mantis in the family Acanthopidae. It is not to be confused with ''Acanthops falcata'', a different species in the same genus that is often referred to with t ...

'' (Goeze, 1778) *''

Acanthops fuscifolia ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common nam ...

'' (Olivier, 1792) *''

Acanthops godmani ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Saussure & Zehntner, 1894 *''

Acanthops occidentalis ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Lombardo & Ippolito, 2004 *''

Acanthops onorei ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf mantis, a common na ...

'' Lombardo & Ippolito, 2004 *''

Acanthops parafalcata ''Acanthops'' is a genus of mantises in the family (biology), family Acanthopidae, containing 20 species that can be found in Central and South America. Description Most species in ''Acanthops'' are colloquially referred to as the dead leaf ma ...

'' Lombardo & Ippolito, 2004 *'' Acanthops parva'' Beier, 1941 *''

Acanthops royi ''Acanthops royi'' is a species of praying mantis in the family Acanthopidae and is one of many mantis from various genera that resembles a dead leaf. See also *Dead leaf mantis *List of mantis genera and species The following list of mantis ge ...

'' Lombardo & Ippolito, 2004 *'' Acanthops soukana'' Roy, 2002

References

External links

''Acanthops'' entry in Mantodea Species File website''Acanthops'' images at Project Noah
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1995165 Acanthopidae Mantodea of South America Mantodea genera Taxa named by Jean Guillaume Audinet-Serville