Tanzanian Heelwalker vs Cederberg Heelwalker

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tanzanian Heelwalker Cederberg Heelwalker
Scientific Name Tanzaniophasma subsolana Austrophasma cederbergense
Order Mantophasmatodea Mantophasmatodea
Family Tanzaniophasmatidae Austrophasmatidae
Size 15-20 mm 15-22 mm
Habitat Mountains Heathland
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions East Africa, Tanzania Southern Africa, South Africa
Conservation Data Deficient Data Deficient

Tanzanian Heelwalker

Known only from a single museum specimen from Tanzania, this enigmatic heelwalker represents the only known East African member of its order. Its biology remains almost completely unknown.

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Did You Know?

This species was described from a specimen collected decades before Mantophasmatodea was recognized as a new order.

Cederberg Heelwalker

A predatory heelwalker found in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa. It is greenish-brown and well-camouflaged among fynbos shrubs.

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Did You Know?

Females eat the male after mating, similar to praying mantises, despite being in an entirely different order.