Invertebrates
Unicorn Mantis
Empusa pennata · also called cone-head mantis
A single pointed projection rises from the head of a unicorn mantis as it waits motionless among the vegetation, its unusually elongated body and the male’s elaborate feathery antennae making it one of the more distinctive mantis species found across southern Europe and North Africa.
Overview
The unicorn mantis, Empusa pennata, is native to forest and grassland habitat across southern Europe and North Africa. Its distinctive horn-like head projection, elaborate male antennae used to detect mates, and unusually slender, elongated build make it one of the most visually recognizable mantis species in its range.
A horn with an uncertain purpose
The exact function of the unicorn mantis’s distinctive head projection remains a subject of ongoing interest among researchers, though it likely contributes to the species’ overall camouflage among the twigs and foliage it rests among.
Status
Not Evaluated for conservation status, found across suitable habitat throughout its range in southern Europe and North Africa.
Unicorn Mantis: common questions
Why is it called the unicorn mantis?
It has a single pointed, cone-shaped projection rising from the top of its head, a feature resembling a small horn that gives the species its common name.
What are the unicorn mantis's elaborate antennae for?
Males display notably feathery antennae used to detect female pheromones from a distance, helping them locate potential mates across the surrounding vegetation.
How does the unicorn mantis catch its food?
It is an ambush predator, remaining motionless and waiting for flying insects such as flies and moths to come within striking range.
Where is the unicorn mantis found?
It is native to forest and grassland habitat across parts of southern Europe and North Africa.