The flightless female resembles a curled dead leaf and weighs 400–500 mg. The male, which flies well, resembles a flat dead leaf, and weighs under 200 mg. The South American dead leaf mantis is located in South America and it gets its name because it resembles a dead leaf. The purpose of this essay is so that the reader can learn facts about the animal.

In this paragraph I will give a general description of my animal. Size depends on species and sex, but range from 75 - 85mm in size. Females are substantially larger and heavier than males. The colors range from a mottled brown, pale orangey brown through to an almost black color. These types of mantises can actually be kept together. We have learned a quick description of this animal.

In this paragraph I will talk of the habitat of this animal. This mantis can be located in South America. Praying mantids can be found in all parts of the world with mild winters and sufficient vegetation. Praying mantids will spend most of their time in a garden, forest or other vegetated area. In this paragraph we have learned a bit about the habitat of this animal.

In this paragraph I will talk of the diet and predators of this animal. Being a carnivorous insect, the mantis feeds primarily on other insects. However, sometimes for larger mantis to consume small reptiles and even small mammals or birds. To capture their prey, mantids use their camouflage to blend in with the surroundings and wait for the prey to be within striking distance. They then use their raptorial front legs to quickly snatch the victim and devour it. As vicious of a predator it is it has predators such as frogs, monkeys, larger birds, spiders and snakes.in this paragraph we have learned about the diet and predators of this animal.

In this entire essay what stood out to me was that unlike other species of mantids these can be caged together. Some final thoughts on the animal are they are experts in camouflage and this can be proved by the fact that there have been fossils with very similar comparisons of structure. 

Author: Mark G.
Published: 03/13

Sources: http://archive.org/stream/proceedingsofaca42acad/proceedingsofaca42acad_djvu.txt
Photo Credit: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12123793