Mantidae is one of the largest families in the order of praying mantises, based on the type species Mantis religiosa; however, most genera are tropical or subtropical. Historically, this was the only family in the order, and many references still use the term "mantid" to refer to any mantis. Technically, however, "mantid" refers only to members of the family Mantidae, and not the 14 remaining families of mantises. Some of the most recent classifications have promoted a number of the mantid subfamilies to the rank of family, e.g. Iridopterygidae, Sibyllidae, Tarachodidae, Thespidae, and Toxoderidae,[1] while other classifications have reduced the number of subfamilies without elevating them to higher rank.

Mantidae
Eight-spot Mantis, Mantis octospilota
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Mantidae
Burmeister, 1838
Subfamilies

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Details of a mantis modified foreleg

Subfamilies and genera

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Following the major revision of the Mantodea in 2019,[2] the Mantodea Species File includes ten subfamilies:[3]

Choeradodinae

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The Americas, Asia

Deromantinae

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Africa

Africa, Asia, Australia

 
Adult female Mantis religiosa

Mellierinae

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Australia

Omomantinae

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Orthoderinae

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The Americas

Africa, Europe

Vatinae

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Stagmatoptera supplicaria

South America

See also

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References

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