The mantis shrimp comes equipped with its own weapons. It has claws that look like permanently clenched fists that are known as dactyl clubs. But when it smashes the shells of its prey, these fists ...

These critters get their name from their kaleidoscope shell—like a peacock’s tail—and their hinged forearms which resemble that of a praying mantis and are kept tucked away until the moment ...

In the arid environment of west-central Iran, a new species of praying mantis was discovered. Pey Khakbaz via Unsplash The feeling of fear is familiar to everyone, from when you hear a peculiar ...

Mantis shrimp are truly spectacular predators of the marine world. Like a praying mantis, the mantis shrimp use a specialised pair of forelimbs to capture prey and are divided into the ‘spearers ...

With a single blow, a mantis shrimp can kill prey or defend its territory against rivals. A study published in Science explores the mechanisms that allow the mantis shrimp's striking limb to ...

The praying mantis that has evolved a flat, triangular shape and coloring just like the leaves it sits on is extremely hard to detect. In camouflage, the shape and outline of the animal merge with ...

Iranian researcher Mahmood Kolnegari has described a new praying mantis species in central Iran, naming it Sinaiella azadi (“freedom” in Persian) to symbolize the importance of scientific ...

Their camouflage has both defensive and offensive applications – it helps them avoid being preyed upon, and it also helps them sneak up on their own prey. The slender green body of this Indian grass ...

praying mantises! The Darwin crew set out to investigate and soon come face to face with the 8-centimeter-long predator, the largest mantis in Japan. Not much escapes its clutches, armed with rows ...