Mantophasmatidae

Mantophasmatidae is a family of carnivorous wingless insects within the monotypic order Mantophasmatodea, which was discovered in Africa in 2001. Recent evidence indicates a sister group relationship with Grylloblattidae (classified in the order Grylloblattodea), and Arillo and Engel have combined the two groups into a single order, Notoptera, with Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea ranked as suborders.
Overview
The most common vernacular name for this order is gladiators, although they also are called rock crawlers, heelwalkers, mantophasmids, and colloquially, mantos. Their modern centre of endemism is western South Africa and Namibia (Brandberg Massif), although the modern relict population of Tanzaniophasma subsolana in Tanzania and Eocene fossils suggest a wider ancient distribution.
Mantophasmatodea are wingless even as adults, making them relatively difficult to identify. They resemble a cross between praying mantises and phasmids, and molecular evidence indicates that they are most closely related to the equally enigmatic group Grylloblattodea. Initially, the gladiators were described from old museum specimens that originally were found in Namibia (Mantophasma zephyra) and Tanzania (M. subsolana), and from a 45-million-year-old specimen of Baltic amber (Raptophasma kerneggeri).
Live specimens were found in Namibia by an international expedition in early 2002; Tyrannophasma gladiator was found on the Brandberg Massif, and Mantophasma zephyra was found on the Erongoberg Massif.
Since then, a number of new genera and species have been discovered, the most recent being two new genera, Kuboesphasma and Minutophasma, each with a single species, described from Richtersveld in South Africa in 2018.
Biology
Mantophasmatids are wingless carnivores. During courtship, they communicate using vibrations transmitted through the ground or substrate.
Classification
The most recent classification recognizes numerous genera, including fossils:
Basal and incertae sedis
Genus †Raptophasma Zompro, 2001 Baltic amber, Eocene
Genus †Adicophasma Engel & Grimaldi, 2004 Baltic amber, Eocene
Genus †Juramantophasma Huang et al, 2008 Daohugou Bed, China, Middle Jurassic (Callovian)
Genus ?†Ensiferophasma Zompro, 2005 (assignment to Mantophasmatodea considered dubious)
Subfamily Tanzaniophasmatinae
Genus Tanzaniophasma Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003 – Tanzania
Species Tanzaniophasma subsolana (Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, & Adis 2002)
Subfamily Mantophasmatinae
Tribe Tyrannophasmatini
Genus Praedatophasma Zompro & Adis, 2002 – Namibia
Species Praedatophasma maraisi Zompro & Adis, 2002
Genus Tyrannophasma Zompro, 2003 – Namibia
Species Tyrannophasma gladiator Zompro, 2003
Tribe Mantophasmatini Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, Adis, 2002 (paraphyletic?)
Genus Mantophasma Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, Adis, 2002 – Namibia
Species Mantophasma gamsbergense Zompro & Adis, 2006
Species Mantophasma kudubergense Zompro & Adis, 2006
Species Mantophasma omatakoense Zompro & Adis, 2006
Species Mantophasma zephyra Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, & Adis 2002
Genus Pachyphasma Wipfler, Pohl, & Predel, 2012 – Namibia
Species Pachyphasma brandbergense Wipfler, Pohl, & Predel, 2012
Genus Sclerophasma Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003 – Namibia
Species Sclerophasma paresisense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, & Tojo 2003
Tribe Austrophasmatini Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003
Genus Austrophasma Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003 – South Africa
Species Austrophasma caledonense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003
Species Austrophasma gansbaaiense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003
Species Austrophasma rawsonvillense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003
Genus Hemilobophasma Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003 – South Africa
Species Hemilobophasma montaguense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003
Genus Karoophasma Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003 – South Africa
Species Karoophasma biedouwense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003
Species Karoophasma botterkloofense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003
Genus Kuboesphasma Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018 – South Africa
Species Kuboesphasma compactum Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018
Genus Lobatophasma Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003 (formerly Lobophasma) – South Africa
Species Lobatophasma redelinghuysense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003
Genus Minutophasma Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018 – South Africa
Species Minutophasma richtersveldense Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018
Genus Namaquaphasma Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003 – South Africa
Species Namaquaphasma ookiepense Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003
Genus Striatophasma Wipfler, Pohl & Predel, 2012 – Namibia
Species Striatophasma naukluftense Wipfler, Pohl & Predel, 2012
Genus Viridiphasma Eberhard, Picker, Klass, 2011 – South Africa
Species Viridiphasma clanwilliamense Eberhard, Picker, Klass, 2011
Some taxonomists assign full family status to the subfamilies and tribes, and sub-ordinal status to the family. In total, there are 21 extant species described as of 2018.
See also
Oliver Zompro
References
External links
Mantophasmatodea - A new order of insects
New insect order found in Southern Africa
New order of insects identified: Mantophasmatodea find their place in Class Insecta
Man discovers a new life-form at a South African truck stop
Insect families
Insects of Namibia
Insects of South Africa