Thorn-legged Stick Insect vs South American Dead Leaf Mantis

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Thorn-legged Stick Insect South American Dead Leaf Mantis
Scientific Name Aretaon asperrimus Acanthops falcataria
Order Phasmatodea Mantodea
Family Heteropterygidae Acanthopidae
Size 60-85mm 40-55 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Asia Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Thorn-legged Stick Insect

A heavily armored stick insect covered in sharp thorns and spines across its entire body. Its brown coloring and spiny texture make it resemble thorny bark. Males are smaller and smoother than females.

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Did You Know?

Its entire body is covered in such dense thorns that it feels like a cactus and is painful to handle carelessly.

South American Dead Leaf Mantis

A spectacular dead leaf mimic from South American forests with crumpled, leaf-shaped wings. Its brown, withered appearance makes it almost indistinguishable from a curled dead leaf.

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Did You Know?

Even its raptorial legs have flattened extensions that resemble leaf fragments.