Species · GBIF taxon 1406423
Ghost Mantis
Phyllocrania paradoxaAlso known as African Ghost Mantis
Ghost mantises are masters of mimicry, perfectly imitating shriveled, decaying leaves with their flattened, asymmetrical bodies and leaf-like projections on their limbs. Unlike many aggressive mantis species, they are relatively docile and often live in loose groups without cannibalizing one another if food is abundant. When threatened, they sway gently in the breeze to enhance their leaf illusion or drop to the forest floor to play dead.
CamouflagedPredatoryArboreal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Houseflies
- Fruit flies
- Small moths
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Larger spiders
ThreatsHabitat destruction and pesticide use
HabitatsDry forests, shrublands, and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa
Life span8 to 12 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderMantodea
- FamilyHymenopodidae
- GenusPhyllocrania
- SpeciesPhyllocrania paradoxa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans and safe to observe closely.
Responsible observation
- Patience is Key: Look closely at dry twigs and leaf litter where they blend in perfectly.
- Gentle Handling: Let them climb onto your hand voluntarily rather than picking them up.
- Watch the Sway: Observe how they rock back and forth to mimic a leaf in the wind.
Ecological Counterpart Jpogi / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Yasunori Koide / CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close Relative Luc Viatour / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Distant Relative Kaldari / Public domain · cc0
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Emerald Kingdom
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