Sphodromantis is a large genus of praying mantises concentrated in Africa, sometimes considered a synonym of the genus Hierodula: from the same family, Mantidae. Outside their range especially, many share the common name African Mantis.
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus Sphodromantis:
- Sphodromantis abessinica <small> Sjöstedt, 1930</small>
- Sphodromantis aethiopica <small>La Greca & Lombardo, 1987</small>
- Sphodromantis annobonensis <small>Llorente, 1968</small>
- Sphodromantis aurea <small>Giglio-Tos, 1917</small> (Congo Green Mantis)
- Sphodromantis aureoides <small>Roy, 2010</small>
- Sphodromantis baccettii <small>La Greca & Lombardo, 1987</small> (Giant African Praying Mantis)
- Sphodromantis balachowskyi <small>La Greca, 1967</small> (African Mantis, African Praying Mantis)
- Sphodromantis biocellata <small>Werner, 1906</small>
- Sphodromantis centralis <small>Rehn, 1914</small> (African Mantis, Central African Mantis)
- Sphodromantis citernii <small>Giglio-Tos, 1917</small>
- Sphodromantis congica <small>Beier, 1931</small> (Congo Mantis)
- Sphodromantis conspicua <small>La Greca, 1967</small>
- Sphodromantis elegans <small> Sjöstedt, 1930</small>
- Sphodromantis elongata <small>La Greca, 1969</small>
- Sphodromantis fenestrata <small>Giglio-Tos, 1912</small>
- Sphodromantis gastrica <small>Stal, 1858</small> (Common Green Mantis, African Mantis)
- Sphodromantis gestri <small>Giglio-Tos, 1912</small>
- Sphodromantis giubana <small>La Greca & Lombardo, 1987</small>
- Sphodromantis gracilicollis <small>Beier, 1930</small>
- Sphodromantis gracilis <small>Lombardo, 1992</small>
- Sphodromantis hyalina <small>La Greca, 1955</small>
- Sphodromantis kersteni <small>Gerstaecker, 1869</small>
- Sphodromantis lagrecai <small>Lombardo, 1990</small>
- Sphodromantis lineola <small>Burmeister, 1838</small> (African Praying Mantis, African Mantis, Giant African Mantis, African Lined Mantis)
- Sphodromantis obscura <small>Beier & Hocking, 1965</small>
- Sphodromantis pachinota <small>La Greca & Lombardo, 1987</small>
- Sphodromantis pardii <small>La Greca & Lombardo, 1987</small>
- Sphodromantis pavonina <small>La Greca, 1956</small>
- Sphodromantis pupillata <small>Bolivar, 1912</small>
- Sphodromantis royi <small>La Greca, 1967</small>
- Sphodromantis rubrostigma <small>Werner, 1916</small>
- Sphodromantis rudolfae <small>Rehn, 1901</small>
- Sphodromantis socotrana <small>(Roy, 2010)</small>
- Sphodromantis splendida <small>Hebard, 1920</small>
- Sphodromantis stigmosa <small>(Roy, 2010)</small>
- Sphodromantis tenuidentata <small>Lombardo, 1992</small>
- Sphodromantis viridis <small>ForskÃÂ¥l, 1775</small> (Giant African Mantis)
- Sphodromantis werneri <small>(Roy, 2010)</small>
As pets
Due to their large size and vibrant coloration compared to other mantids, Sphodromantis species are very common in the pet trade. List of Sphodromantis species that have been bred and raised in captivity.
- Sphodromantis aurea <small>(Congo Green Mantis)</small>
- Sphodromantis baccettii <small>(Giant African Praying Mantis)</small>
- Sphodromantis gastrica <small>(Common Green Mantis, African Mantis)</small>
- Sphodromantis lineola <small>(African Praying Mantis, African Mantis, Giant African Mantis, African Lined Mantis)</small>
- Sphodromantis viridis <small>(Giant African Mantis)</small>
- Sphodromantis sp. "Blue Flash" <small>(An unknown species of Sphodromantis that comes from the Congo and are popular in the pet trade. They are also called Sphodromantis sp. "Congo Blue Flash", Congo Blue Flash or just Blue Flash.)</small>
See also
References