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Issue: Vol. 5831 No. 4: 17 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-17
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5831.4.2
Page range: 477-498
Abstract views: 115
PDF downloaded: 10

Praying Mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) of the Eastern Himalayas: A Systematic Review of Diversity and Range Extensions from Arunachal Pradesh

Western Ghat Regional Centre; Zoological Survey of India; Kozhikode 673006; Kerala; India.
Marine Aquarium & Regional Centre; Zoological Survey of India; Digha; West Bengal 721428; India.
Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre; Zoological Survey of India; Itanagar; 791113; Arunachal Pradesh; India.
Mantodea Arunachal Pradesh Systematic inventory Range extensions Endemism

Abstract

Praying Mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) are an important yet understudied component of predatory arthropod assemblages in the Eastern Himalaya. We provide a systematic account of the mantid fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, India, based on the study of mantis specimens collected from different parts of the state such as Tawang district, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Kane Wildlife Sanctuary, Yordi-Rabe Subse Wildlife Sanctuary, and Upper Siang District supplemented by literature review. A total of 29 species across 18 genera and five families are documented. Field collections yielded 74 specimens, confirming known records and reporting seven new distributional records for the state: Amantis subirina, Acromantis lobofemorata, Anaxarcha graminea, Astyliasula inermis, Ephestiasula rogenhoferi, Hierodula tenuidentata, and Tenodera aridifolia. The assemblage reflects the biogeographical complexity of Arunachal Pradesh, which hosts a mix of Oriental and Palearctic elements, providing baseline data for biodiversity assessment and conservation.

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How to Cite

Sureshan, P., Binoy, C. & Gurumayum, S. (2026) Praying Mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) of the Eastern Himalayas: A Systematic Review of Diversity and Range Extensions from Arunachal Pradesh. Zootaxa, 5831 (4), 477–498. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5831.4.2