Mantophasmatidae

Mantophasmatidae Temporal range: Callovian–Present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Mantophasma zephyra Zompro et al., 2002
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Superorder:	Notoptera
Order:	Mantophasmatodea Zompro et al., 2002
Family:	Mantophasmatidae Zompro et al., 2002
Subfamilies, tribes
see text

Mantophasmatidae is a family of carnivorous wingless insects within the monotypic order Mantophasmatodea, which was discovered in Africa in 2001.^[1][2] Recent evidence indicates a sister group relationship with Grylloblattidae (classified in the order Grylloblattodea),^[3][4] and Arillo and Engel have combined the two groups into a single order, Notoptera, with Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea ranked as suborders.^[5]

Overview

The most common vernacular name for this order is gladiators, although they also are called rock crawlers, heelwalkers, mantophasmids, and colloquially, mantos.^[6] Their modern centre of endemism is western South Africa and Namibia (Brandberg Massif),^[7] 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.^[3][4] 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.^[8]

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.^[9]

Biology

Mantophasmatids are wingless carnivores. During courtship, they communicate using vibrations transmitted through the ground or substrate.^[10]

Classification

The most recent classification^[9] 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^[11] 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^[12] – 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.^[9]

See also

• Oliver Zompro

References

External links

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