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Moss Mantis, Inírida, Colombia One of the weirdest and most beautiful insects I&#039;ve yet laid my eyes on. Be sure to zoom in, this one has a lot of detail. I&#039;m thinking it is a Acanthops sp, but that&#039;s just a theory for now. Full disclosure: another tourist took this from a field trip and brought it back to the hotel. A practice I do not approve of, but since it was here anyway, I was too tempted to not capture it.<br /> <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/53628/moss_mantis_-_front_view_inrida_colombia.html" title="Moss Mantis - front view, In&iacute;rida, Colombia"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/53628_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=yo1FEZfbp1d6P3Z8qhMv63X%2BHIk%3D" width="144" height="152" alt="Moss Mantis - front view, In&iacute;rida, Colombia Colombia,Guain&iacute;a,In&iacute;rida,South America,World" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/53627/moss_mantis_-_head_closeup_inrida_colombia.html" title="Moss Mantis - head closeup, In&iacute;rida, Colombia"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/53627_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=M10CTmixCe4BgIa%2BGFI9DzV9SE8%3D" width="200" height="200" alt="Moss Mantis - head closeup, In&iacute;rida, Colombia Colombia,Guain&iacute;a,In&iacute;rida,South America,World" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/53626/moss_mantis_-_side_view_inrida_colombia.html" title="Moss Mantis - side view, In&iacute;rida, Colombia"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/53626_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=YrBnwLKawYrMfgUihdDtKzpQSAI%3D" width="134" height="152" alt="Moss Mantis - side view, In&iacute;rida, Colombia Colombia,Guain&iacute;a,In&iacute;rida,South America,World" /></a></figure> Colombia,Guainía,Inírida,South America,World Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Moss Mantis, Inírida, Colombia

One of the weirdest and most beautiful insects I've yet laid my eyes on. Be sure to zoom in, this one has a lot of detail. I'm thinking it is a Acanthops sp, but that's just a theory for now. Full disclosure: another tourist took this from a field trip and brought it back to the hotel. A practice I do not approve of, but since it was here anyway, I was too tempted to not capture it.

Moss Mantis - front view, Inírida, Colombia Colombia,Guainía,Inírida,South America,World

Moss Mantis - head closeup, Inírida, Colombia Colombia,Guainía,Inírida,South America,World

Moss Mantis - side view, Inírida, Colombia Colombia,Guainía,Inírida,South America,World

    comments (8)

  1. View Jivko Nakev's profile
    Jivko Nakev
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    Great finding! Great captures! Posted 7 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      Thanks! Posted 7 years ago
  3. View Barry's profile
    Barry
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    Oh my - what an extraordinary creature! Posted 7 years ago
  4. View WildFlower's profile
    WildFlower
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    Prof. Francesco Lombardo along with prof. Salvatrice Ippolito have described and reviewed most of the Acanthopidae genera. I wonder if they would be willing to take a look at this beauty and identify it. Below are some of the articles and contact details.
    http://www.dipbiogeo.unict.it/san/insegnamenti/wp-content/uploads/applcativo-gestione-insegnamenti/database/docenti_dettaglio.php?id_docente=150
    http://www.dipbiogeo.unict.it/san/insegnamenti/wp-content/uploads/applcativo-gestione-insegnamenti/database/docenti_dettaglio.php?id_docente=155
    http://www.redalyc.org/pdf/491/49180201.pdf
    http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03946975.1997.10539326
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290541542_Synopsis_of_the_Neotropical_mantid_genus_Pseudacanthops_Saussure_1870_with_the_description_of_three_new_species_Mantodea_Acanthopidae     Posted 7 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      Thank you very much for the excellent research! I'll contact to ask if they will have a look. Posted 7 years ago
  6. View Albert Kang's profile
    Albert Kang
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    Wow, that's a great find, and great pics of it! Posted 7 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      Thank you Albert! Posted 7 years ago
  8. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
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    That is truly amazing! Even the eyes are camouflaged! Posted 7 years ago

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View Ferdy Christant's profile

By Ferdy Christant

All rights reserved
Uploaded Sep 14, 2017. Captured Oct 26, 2016 12:31.
country flag of Colombia Explore Colombia 8,334 2,805 0
  • NIKON D800
  • f/11.0
  • 1/60s
  • ISO100
  • 105mm

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