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African Lined Mantis (Sphodromantis lineola)

Sphodromantis lineola

The Sphodromantis lineola, or African Lined Mantis. It is the African equivalent of the Hierodula: a mammoth mantis, very common and robust as a tank. Females (3.1-3.5 inches) are very stocky and powerful, capable of subduing gigantic prey (including adult crickets and small locusts). The color varies from Leaf Green to Dry Brown depending on the camouflage required by the molt. The name 'Lined' derives from the slight transverse line on the margin of the tegmina wings. Extremely forgiving of temperature fluctuations (tolerates dry air better than Asian species), it is considered the 'invincible' mantis par excellence for neophytes. Shamelessly voracious and cannibalistic.

Taxonomy

Class:Insecta

Order:Mantodea

Family:Mantidae

Genus:Sphodromantis

Species:Sphodromantis lineola

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

50 - 60 %

Day temperature

24 - 28 °C

Night temperature

20 - 22 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This recovery makes no geographic-origin or habitat claim.

Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF, citing Catalogue of Life for classification, lists Sphodromantis lineola Burmeister, 1838 as an accepted species and lists Mantis lineola Burmeister, 1838 as a synonym or combination.

Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural claim.

Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery adds no morphological or sexual-dimorphism claim.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: The Scientific Reports profile places Sphodromantis lineola across West, East, Central and parts of Southern Africa, in steppe vegetation and in grasses, bushes and trees. These are natural range and habitat facts, not captive setup instructions.

Lighting and Heating: This recovery does not formulate a datum on lighting or heating beyond the facts cited above.

Humidity and Hydration: This recovery does not formulate a datum on humidity or hydration beyond the facts cited above.

Feeding and Supplementation: The profile describes an ambush-predator diet including flying insects, wasps and cockroaches, and records hunting of small vertebrates. These are documented natural-history prey facts, not a captive feeding or supplementation protocol.

Compatibility and Coexistence: The documented ambush predation, including hunting of small vertebrates, remains a natural-history fact and is not a compatibility or cohabitation recommendation.

Health and Common Diseases: This recovery does not formulate a datum on health or common diseases beyond the facts cited above.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Africa (Aree sub-sahariane, savane, praterie e giardini in gran parte dell'Africa centrale/occidentale).

Origin

Africa and Madagascar

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet: No verified data available
Life expectancy: No verified data available
Adult size: 8 cm
Lifestyle/Microhabitat: No verified data available
Activity cycle: No verified data available
Sociality: No verified data available
Reproduction: No verified data available
Venom level: No verified data available
Handling tolerance: No verified data available
Brumation: No verified data available
Molting: No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Recommended companions

Compatible cards from coherent ecosystems with matching parameters.

Similar care

Cards with similar requirements, difficulty, habitat, and husbandry profile.

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Giant Asian Mantis (Hierodula membranacea)

Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis)

Giant Australian Mantis (Hierodula majuscula)

Recommended companions

Corn Snake (Amelanistic)

Corn Snake (Anerythristic)

Corn Snake (Palmetto)

Corn Snake (Scaleless)

Similar care

Rio Grande Gold Tarantula (Aphonopelma moderatum)

Brazilian Redrump Tarantula (Grammostola actaeon)

Giant Vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus giganteus)

Domino Roach (Therea petiveriana)