Apteromantis aptera

Apteromantis aptera is a species of praying mantis endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.^[2] It was first described by José María Hugo de la Fuente Morales in 1894. It was previously considered to be endangered by the IUCN, but has been downgraded to least concern, as the populations are rising and they are spreading to new habitats in south-central Spain and southern Portugal.^[1]

Geographic distribution of the Iberic endemism Apteromantis aptera marked on orange.

Apteromantis aptera
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Mantodea
Family:	Amelidae
Genus:	Apteromantis
Species:	A. aptera
Binomial name
Apteromantis aptera (Fuente, 1894)
Synonyms
Ameles aptera Fuente, 1894

This species may be brown, grey or green in colour. They can be distinguished from other mantids by the very angular eyes that taper to (upward and outwards facing) points. The nymphs hide low down in grasses and jump with agility, making them difficult to tell apart from small grasshoppers.

See also

• List of mantis genera and species