Head to head
Unicorn Mantis vs Dead Leaf Mantis
The unicorn mantis and dead leaf mantis both rely on elaborate camouflage, but they take almost opposite approaches to body shape, one unusually slender with a single horn-like head projection, the other bulky and broad enough to pass convincingly for a curled, decaying leaf.
| Unicorn Mantis | Dead Leaf Mantis | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Empusa pennata | Deroplatys desiccata |
| Signature feature | A single horn-like projection on the head | A broad, crinkled, leaf-shaped shield on the thorax |
| Body build | Slender and unusually elongated | Larger and bulkier than many leaf-mimicking mantises |
| Male antennae | Elaborate and feathery, used to detect pheromones | Not a notably distinguishing trait |
| Startle display | Not a primary defence strategy | Rears up, spreads wings to flash eyespots and bright colours |
| Sexual cannibalism | Not specifically documented | Females frequently eat males during or after mating |
| Native range | Southern Europe and North Africa | Lowland tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
Unicorn Mantis vs Dead Leaf Mantis: common questions
What is the main visual difference between the unicorn mantis and the dead leaf mantis?
The unicorn mantis is best known for a single, pointed, horn-like projection on its head and an unusually slender, elongated body, while the dead leaf mantis instead carries a broad, crinkled, leaf-shaped shield on its thorax that makes its whole body read as a curled dead leaf.
Which mantis has a more dramatic startle display, the unicorn mantis or the dead leaf mantis?
The dead leaf mantis, which rears up and spreads its wings to flash hidden eyespots and bright inner colours if its camouflage fails, a dedicated startle display not documented as a primary defence strategy for the unicorn mantis.
Does the female eat the male after mating in both the unicorn mantis and dead leaf mantis?
This is specifically documented in the dead leaf mantis, whose females frequently eat males during or after mating, while this behaviour is not specifically documented for the unicorn mantis.