Yemeni Conehead Mantis vs Railroad Worm
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Yemeni Conehead Mantis | Railroad Worm |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Empusa mendicaria | Phrixothrix hirtus |
| Order | Mantodea | Coleoptera |
| Family | Empusidae | Phengodidae |
| Size | 45-60 mm | 30-65 mm (larvae) |
| Habitat | Heathland | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia | South America |
| Conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
Yemeni Conehead Mantis
A slender conehead mantis from the Arabian Peninsula with a well-developed head process. It inhabits dry wadis and acacia scrublands.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few Empusa species adapted to the extreme aridity of the Arabian Peninsula.
Railroad Worm
A beetle larva with 11 pairs of green-glowing lateral organs and a red-glowing headlamp — the only land animal that produces two different colors of bioluminescence simultaneously.
Did You Know?
The railroad worm is the only terrestrial animal that glows in two colors at once — green along its sides like railway car windows and red on its head like a locomotive.