Editing Mantophasmatidae

{{Short description|Family of insects}}
{{automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|Callovian|Present}}
| image = Mantophasma zephyra Zompro et al 2002.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Mantophasma zephyra]]'' Zompro ''et al.'', 2002
| parent_authority = Zompro ''et al.'', 2002
| taxon = Mantophasmatidae
| authority = Zompro ''et al.'', 2002
| display_parents = 2
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies, tribes
| subdivision = [[#Classification|see text]]
}}

'''Mantophasmatidae ''' is a [[family (biology)|family]] of carnivorous wingless insects within the [[monotypic]] order '''Mantophasmatodea''', which was discovered in Africa in 2001.<ref name=Klass2002>{{cite journal|first1=K.-D.|last1=Klass|first2=O.|last2=Zompro|first3=N.P.|last3=Kristensen|first4=J.|last4=Adis|title=Mantophasmatodea: a new insect order with extant members in the afrotropics|journal=Science|volume=296|year=2002|pages=1456–1459|doi=10.1126/science.1069397}}</ref><ref name=Adis2002>{{cite magazine|last1=Adis|first1=J.|first2=O.|last2=Zompro|first3=E.|last3=Moombolah-Goagoses|first4=E.|last4=Marais|date=November 2002|title=Gladiators: A new order of insect|magazine=Scientific American|volume=287|issue=5|pages=60–65|url=https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/baldwin/webbugs/3005_5006/Docs/gladiators.pdf|access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref> Recent evidence indicates a [[sister group]] relationship with [[Grylloblattidae]] (classified in the order [[Grylloblattodea]]),<ref name=TW2005>{{cite journal|last1=Terry|first1=M.D.|first2=M.F.|last2=Whiting|year=2005|title=Mantophasmatodea and phylogeny of the lower neopterous insects|journal=Cladistics|volume=21|issue=3|pages=240–257|doi=10.1111/j.1096-0031.2005.00062.x|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=Cameron2006>{{cite journal |first1=S. L.|last1=Cameron|first2=S. C.|last2=Barker|first3=M. F.|last3=Whiting |year=2006 |title=Mitochondrial genomics and the new insect order Mantophasmatodea |journal=[[Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution]] |volume=38 |pages=274–279 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.09.020 |pmid=16321547 |issue=1}}</ref> and Arillo and Engel have combined the two groups into a single order, [[Notoptera]], with Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea ranked as suborders.<ref name=ArilloEngel2006>{{cite journal|last1=Arillo|first1=A.|last2=Engel|first2=M.S.|year=2006|title=Rock crawlers in Baltic amber (Notoptera: Mantophasmatodea)|journal=American Museum Novitates|volume=3539|pages=1–10|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59821931}}</ref>

==Overview==
The most common vernacular name for this order is '''gladiators''', although they also are called '''rock crawlers''', '''heelwalkers''', '''mantophasmids''', and colloquially, '''mantos'''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/mantophasmatodea/ | title = Biodiversity Explorer: Mantophasmatodea | publisher = Iziko | access-date = 30 June 2018}}</ref> Their modern centre of [[endemism]] is western [[South Africa]] and [[Namibia]] ([[Brandberg Massif]]),<ref name="Zompro2002">{{cite journal |last1=Zompro |first1=O. |last2=Adis |first2=J. |last3=Weitschat |first3=W. |year=2002 |title=A review of the order Mantophasmatodea (Insecta). |journal=Zoologischer Anzeiger |volume=241 |issue=3 |pages=269–279|doi=10.1078/0044-5231-00080 }}</ref> although the modern [[Relict (biology)|relict]] population of ''[[Tanzaniophasma subsolana]]'' in [[Tanzania]] and [[Eocene]] fossils suggest a wider ancient distribution.

Mantophasmatodea are wingless even as [[adult]]s, making them relatively difficult to identify. They resemble a cross between [[praying mantis]]es and [[phasmatodea|phasmid]]s, and molecular evidence indicates that they are most closely related to the equally enigmatic group [[Grylloblattodea]].<ref name=TW2005 /><ref name=Cameron2006 /> Initially, the gladiators were described from old museum specimens that originally were found in Namibia (''[[Mantophasma zephyra]]'') and Tanzania (''[[Tanzaniophasma subsolana|M. subsolana]]''), and from a 45-million-year-old specimen of [[Baltic Sea|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 [[Erongo|Erongoberg Massif]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Zompro | first1 = O. | last2 = Adis | first2 = J. | last3 = Bragg | first3 = P.E. | last4 = Naskrecki | first4 = P. | last5 = Meakin | first5 = K. | last6 = Wittneben | first6 = M. | last7 = Saxe | first7 = V. | year = 2003 | title = A new genus and species of Mantophasmatidae (Insecta: Mantophasmatodea) from the Brandberg Massif, Namibia, with notes on behaviour | journal = Cimbebasia | volume = 19 | pages = 13–24 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Wipfleretal2018">{{cite journal |last1=Wipfler |first1=B |last2=Theska |first2=T |last3=Predel |first3=R |year=2018 |title=Mantophasmatodea from the Richtersveld in South Africa with description of two new genera and species |journal=ZooKeys |issue=746 |pages=137–160 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.746.14885|pmid=29674900 |pmc=5904538 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Biology ==
Mantophasmatids are wingless carnivores. During courtship, they communicate using vibrations transmitted through the ground or substrate.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Randall|first=J. A.|date=2014|title=Vibrational Communication: Spiders to Kangaroo Rats|journal=Biocommunication of Animals|pages=103–133|doi=10.1007/978-94-007-7414-8_7|isbn=978-94-007-7413-1}}</ref>

==Classification==
The classification of Mantophasmatodea in Arillo & Engel (2006)<ref name=ArilloEngel2006 /> recognizes numerous genera, including fossils, in a single family Manophasmatidae:
[[File:Gladiator.jpg|thumb|Unidentified mantophasmid species in the [[Zoologische Staatssammlung München]]]]
* [[Basal (evolution)|Basal]] and ''[[incertae sedis]]''
** Genus †''[[Raptophasma]]'' <small>Zompro, 2001</small> – [[Baltic amber]], [[Eocene]]
** Genus †''[[Adicophasma]]'' <small>Engel & Grimaldi, 2004</small> – Baltic amber, Eocene
**Genus †''[[Juramantophasma]]'' <small>Huang ''et al,'' 2008</small><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Huang|first1=Di-ying|last2=Nel|first2=André|last3=Zompro|first3=Oliver|last4=Waller|first4=Alain|date=2008-06-11|title=Mantophasmatodea now in the Jurassic|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5311278|journal=Naturwissenschaften|volume=95|issue=10|pages=947–952|doi=10.1007/s00114-008-0412-x|pmid=18545982|s2cid=35408984|issn=0028-1042}}</ref> – [[Tiaojishan Formation|Daohugou Bed]], China, Middle Jurassic ([[Callovian]])
** Genus ?†''[[Ensiferophasma]]'' <small>Zompro, 2005</small><ref name="Zompro2005">{{cite journal|last=Zompro|first=O.|year=2005|title=Inter- and intra-ordinal relationships of the Mantophasmatodea, with comments on the phylogeny of polyneopteran orders (Insecta: Polyneoptera)|journal=Mitteilungen aus dem Geologisch-Paläontologischen Institut der Universität Hamburg|volume=89|pages=85–116|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285307536}}</ref> – Baltic amber, Eocene (assignment to Mantophasmatodea considered dubious){{refn|group=note|This genus is sometimes placed in its own family, Ensiferophasmatidae.}}
* Subfamily [[Tanzaniophasmatinae]] <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small>{{refn|group=note|This subfamily is sometimes known as the family Tanzaniophasmatidae.}}
** Genus ''[[Tanzaniophasma]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small> – Tanzania
*** Species ''[[Tanzaniophasma subsolana]]'' <small>(Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, & Adis 2002)</small>
* Subfamily [[Mantophasmatinae]]
** Tribe [[Tyrannophasmatini]] <small>Zompro, 2005</small><ref name="Zompro2005"/>
*** Genus ''[[Praedatophasma]]'' <small>Zompro & Adis, 2002</small> – Namibia
**** Species ''[[Praedatophasma maraisi]]'' <small>Zompro & Adis, 2002</small>
*** Genus ''[[Tyrannophasma]]'' <small>Zompro, 2003</small> – Namibia
**** Species ''[[Tyrannophasma gladiator]]'' <small>Zompro, 2003</small>
** Tribe [[Mantophasmatini]] <small>Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, Adis, 2002</small> ([[paraphyletic]]?)
*** Genus ''[[Mantophasma]]'' <small>Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, Adis, 2002</small> – Namibia
**** Species ''[[Mantophasma gamsbergense]]'' <small>Zompro & Adis, 2006</small>
**** Species ''[[Mantophasma kudubergense]]'' <small>Zompro & Adis, 2006</small>
**** Species ''[[Mantophasma omatakoense]]'' <small>Zompro & Adis, 2006</small>
**** Species ''[[Mantophasma zephyra]]'' <small>Zompro, Klass, Kristensen, & Adis 2002</small>
*** Genus ''[[Pachyphasma]]''  <small>Wipfler, Pohl, & Predel, 2012</small> – Namibia
**** Species ''[[Pachyphasma brandbergense]]''  <small>Wipfler, Pohl, & Predel, 2012</small>
*** Genus ''[[Sclerophasma]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small> – Namibia
**** Species ''[[Sclerophasma paresisense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, & Tojo 2003</small>
** Tribe [[Austrophasmatini]] <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small>{{refn|group=note|This tribe is sometimes known as the family Austrophasmatidae.}}
*** Genus ''[[Austrophasma]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small> – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Austrophasma caledonense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003</small>
**** Species ''[[Austrophasma gansbaaiense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003</small>
**** Species ''[[Austrophasma rawsonvillense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003</small>
*** Genus ''[[Hemilobophasma]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small> – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Hemilobophasma montaguense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003</small>
*** Genus ''[[Karoophasma]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small> – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Karoophasma biedouwense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003</small>
**** Species ''[[Karoophasma botterkloofense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003</small>
*** Genus ''[[Kuboesphasma]]'' <small>Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018</small> – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Kuboesphasma compactum]]'' <small>Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018</small>
*** Genus ''[[Lobatophasma]]'' <small>Damgaard, Klass, Picker & Buder, 2008 </small> (formerly ''Lobophasma'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003</small>) – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Lobatophasma redelinghuysense]]'' <small>(Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort & Tojo, 2003)</small>
*** Genus ''[[Minutophasma]]'' <small>Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018</small> – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Minutophasma richtersveldense]]'' <small>Wipfler, Theska & Predel, 2018</small>
*** Genus ''[[Namaquaphasma]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small> – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Namaquaphasma ookiepense]]'' <small>Klass, Picker, Damgaard, van Noort, Tojo, 2003</small>
*** Genus ''[[Striatophasma]]'' <small>Wipfler, Pohl & Predel, 2012</small> – Namibia
**** Species ''[[Striatophasma naukluftense]]'' <small>Wipfler, Pohl & Predel, 2012</small>
*** Genus ''[[Viridiphasma]]'' <small>Eberhard, Picker, Klass, 2011</small><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Eberhard|first1=M.J.B.|first2=M.D.|last2=Picker|first3=K.D.|last3=Klass|year=2011|title=Sympatry in Mantophasmatodea, with the description of a new species and phylogenetic considerations|journal=Organisms Diversity & Evolution|volume=11|issue=1|pages=43–59|doi=10.1007/s13127-010-0037-8}}</ref> – South Africa
**** Species ''[[Viridiphasma clanwilliamense]]'' <small>Eberhard, Picker, Klass, 2011</small>

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.<ref name="Wipfleretal2018"/>

==See also==
*[[Oliver Zompro]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Mantophasmatidae}}
{{Wikispecies}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030701220008/http://www.sungaya.de/oz/gladiator/ Mantophasmatodea - A new order of insects]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020602142151/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0328_0328_TVstickinsect.html New insect order found in Southern Africa]
* [http://animals.about.com/cs/insects/a/aa041902a.htm New order of insects identified: Mantophasmatodea find their place in Class Insecta]
* [http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/04/26/man-discovers-a-new-life-form-at-a-south-african-truck-stop Man discovers a new life-form at a South African truck stop]

{{Orders of Insects}}
{{Notoptera}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q13560459|from2=Q754029}}

[[Category:Mantophasmatidae| ]]
[[Category:Insect families]]
[[Category:Insects of Namibia]]
[[Category:Insects of South Africa]]