Empusidae

Empusidae
Empusa pennata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Empusidae
Burmeister, 1838

Empusidae is a family of plant-mimicking mantises[1] (see Mantodea), consisting of 10 genera, in two subfamilies.[2] Unlike many other mantis families, the Empusidae are a monophyletic lineage.[1][3][4] Empusidae mantises are ambush predators,[4] with mouthparts adapted to feeding on other insects and small animals.[3] The majority of Empusidae species are distributed throughout Africa, but they are also found in Southeast Asia and in the southern parts of Europe.[5]

  1. ^ a b Svenson, Gavin J., et al. "Of flowers and twigs: phylogenetic revision of the plant‐mimicking praying mantises (Mantodea: Empusidae and Hymenopodidae) with a new suprageneric classification." Systematic Entomology 40.4 (2015)
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference MSF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Khokhar, Jawaid A., and N. M. Soomro. "A Comparative Study of Structural Adaptations of Mouthparts in Mantodea From Sindh." Pakistan J. Zool 41.1 (2009): 21-27.
  4. ^ a b Svenson, Gavin J., and Michael F. Whiting. "Phylogeny of Mantodea based on molecular data: evolution of a charismatic predator." Systematic Entomology 29.3 (2004): 359-370.
  5. ^ Ehrmann, Reinhard. Mantodea Gottesanbeterinnen der Welt. Natur und Tier, 2002.