Choeradodis is a genus of praying mantises with common names such as shield mantis, hood mantis (or hooded mantis), and leaf mantis (or leafy mantis) because of their extended, leaf-like thoraces.[1][2][3][4] The distinguishing characteristic of Choreododis from which it takes its common names is a laterally expanded thorax. This adaptation for the purpose of camouflage, as well as a rounded wing case and a habit of staying relatively flattened, aid its leaf mimicry.[5] Tiny liverworts, lichens and fungi have been found growing on the pronotum and wing case of many Choeradodis mantids; these appear to be opportunistic growths rather than an example of coevolution with the mantids to afford extra camouflage.[6]
Choeradodis is endemic to the Neotropical realm, ranging from tropical South America, through Central America, to Mexico. The similar Asian shield mantis that formerly were included in Choeradodis have been moved to their own genus Asiadodis.[1][7][8]
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus Choeradodis:
^ ab[1] Wood-Mason, J. 1880. Synopsis of the species of Choeradodis, a remarkable genus of Mantodea common to Indian and Tropical America. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 47(1):82-84.
^Lücking, Robert; Mata-Lorenzen, Juan; Dauphin L., Gregorio (2010). "Epizoic liverworts, lichens and fungi growing on Costa Rican Shield Mantis (Mantodea: Choeradodis)". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 45 (3): 175–186. doi:10.1080/01650521.2010.532387. S2CID84488743.
^Roy, R. (2004). "Révision et phylogénie des Choeradodini Kirby, 1904 (Dictyoptera, Mantidae)". Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France. 109 (2): 113–128.
^[4] Terra, P. S. 1995. Systematics of the Neotropical genera of praying mantis (Mantodea). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 39(1):13-94.
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2008-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Choeradodis stalii (Peruvian shield mantis)
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