Hopping Mantis

Discovery LocationAustralian Outback

Lead ResearcherDr. G. Irwin

Field Report Summary

Physical Description

A bright green praying mantis with elongated, powerful hind legs resembling those of a grasshopper. These legs are striped with black and yellow for camouflage. The mantis retains its characteristic raptorial forelimbs. It possesses large, multifaceted eyes and long antennae.

Habitat

Dense grasslands and rainforests.

Dietary Behavior

Consumes smaller insects and frogs, using its powerful legs to leap vast distances.

Evolutionary Origin

Originally a praying mantis, it gained the hopping ability when a frog was consumed by the mantis with strange genetics. This altered the genes within the mantis.

Behavioral Notes

Capable of camouflage similar to both Mantises and Frogs, can blend into nearly any background.