Gongylus gongylodes, also known as the wandering violin mantis, ornate mantis, or Indian rose mantis, is a species of praying mantis in the family Empusidae. Characterized by extremely slender limbs with large appendages, it is not a particularly aggressive species[citation needed] and often kept as a pet. The mantis is especially known for swaying its body back and forth to imitate a stick flowing in the wind.[1] It primarily feeds on flying insects. Its native range is in southern India and Sri Lanka.[citation needed] It can reach up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long. The males of the species are capable of flight. They are a communal species, in that they are able to live and breed in large groups, without unnecessary cannibalism.[citation needed] Adult females are about 10cm (3 in) and adult males are about 9 cm.[citation needed]
| Gongylus gongylodes | |
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| Gongylus gongylodes | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Empusidae |
| Genus: | Gongylus |
| Species: | G. gongylodes
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| Binomial name | |
| Gongylus gongylodes | |
| Synonyms | |
Its specific name gongylodes means "roundish" in Greek,[2] from the same word as its generic epithet Gongylus.
Range
editThey are found in India, Java, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.[3]
Gallery
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G. gongylodes
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G. gongylodes
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G. gongylodes
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G. gongylodes
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Violin mantis at Madikai Ambalathukara, Kerala, India
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Violin mantis
References
edit- ^ French, Jess. Minibeasts with Jess French: Masses of Mindblowing Minibeast Facts! Bloomsbury Wildlife, 2018.
- ^ Stearn, William Thomas (1983). Botanical Latin. 275. David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-8548-7.
gongylodes / gongyloides: roundish
- ^ Texas A&M University
External links
editMedia related to Gongylus gongylodes at Wikimedia Commons
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