A mantis photographed in Richards Bay, Zululand, in July 2026. The animal was recorded rather than collected or handled.
Identification
| Field | Record |
|---|---|
| Order | Mantodea |
| Common name | Praying mantis |
| Identification | General only |
| Species | Unknown / undetermined |
| Status | Observed |
The photograph shows the characteristic triangular head, elongated prothorax and strongly modified raptorial forelegs of a mantis. Those features are sufficient for the general identification recorded here; they are not sufficient grounds for pretending to know the species.
Unknown is a result, not a failure. The record can be revised if better diagnostic evidence becomes available.