Mantophasmatodea

Definition

An order or suborder of carnivorous, wingless insects within the clade Notoptera, comprising the heelwalkers or gladiators. These insects are characterized by an elongated prothorax, raptorial forelegs adapted for grasping prey, and a distinctive locomotory gait in which the body is held elevated and tarsi are placed down sequentially—hence "heelwalkers." The group was described in 2002 based on specimens from Namibia and western South Africa, representing one of the most recently discovered insect orders. Extant species are placed in families Austrophasmatidae, Mantophasmatidae, and Tanzaniophasmatidae; the group is sister to the Grylloblattodea (ice crawlers).

Etymology

From Mantophasma (type genus, from Greek mantis "prophet" + phasma "apparition") + -odea (denoting order or group)

Example

Mantophasmatodea species such as Tyrannophasma gladiator are nocturnal predators that hunt small arthropods on rocky outcrops in the Succulent Karoo biome of South Africa.

Synonyms

• heelwalkers
• gladiators

Related Terms

• Grylloblattodea
• Notoptera
• Polyneoptera
• Austrophasmatidae
• Mantophasmatidae
• Apterygote
• neopteran

Usage Notes

Rank is unsettled: treated as suborder within order Notoptera by some authorities, as separate order by others. The group is sometimes grouped with Grylloblattodea in the superorder Notopterodea or order Notoptera. All extant species are wingless (apterygote), though this is considered secondary loss. Discovery date is often cited as 2001 (initial find) or 2002 (formal description). Not to be confused with Mantodea (praying mantises), though both share raptorial forelegs.