Ecuadorian Dead Leaf Mantis vs Chinese Mantis

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ecuadorian Dead Leaf Mantis Chinese Mantis
Scientific Name Acanthops elegans Tenodera sinensis
Order Mantodea Mantodea
Family Acanthopidae Mantidae
Size 35-48 mm 80-110 mm
Habitat Forests Underground
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions Ecuador, Northern Peru Asia, North America (introduced)
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Ecuadorian Dead Leaf Mantis

An elegant dead leaf mantis from the western Amazon basin of Ecuador. It has refined leaf mimicry with smooth, curved wing edges.

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Did You Know?

Its smoother wing outline distinguishes it from the more ragged-edged species in the genus.

Chinese Mantis

One of the largest mantis species in North America (introduced). An ambush predator with remarkable binocular vision. Females sometimes cannibalize males after or during mating.

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Did You Know?

Praying mantises are the only insects that can turn their heads 180 degrees to look over their shoulders — giving them a nearly full field of vision for hunting.