Dead leaf mantis is a common name

Common name

A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...

 given to various species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of praying mantis that mimic dead leaves

Leaf

A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....

. It is most often used in reference to species within genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 Deroplatys

Deroplatys

Deroplatys is a genus of praying mantises in the subfamily Deroplatyinae of Mantidae. They are native to Asia and several share the common name Dead Leaf Mantis. Representative species include:...

because of their popularity as exotic pet

Pet

A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...

s. Examples include D. desiccata

Deroplatys desiccata

Deroplatys desiccata, known by the common names Giant Dead Leaf Mantis and Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Southeast Asia.-Description:...

(giant dead leaf mantis), D. lobata

Deroplatys lobata

Deroplatys lobata, common name Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis, is a species of praying mantis that inhabits Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sumatra....

(Malaysian dead leaf mantis), and D. philippinica

Deroplatys philippinica

Deroplatys philippinica, common name Philippines Dead Leaf Mantis, is a species of Dead Leaf Mantis from the Philippines....

(Philippines dead leaf mantis). Other species to which the term may apply include Acanthops falcataria

Acanthops falcataria

Acanthops falcataria, common name South American Dead Leaf Mantis, is a species of praying mantis placed historically in the family Acanthopidae and is one of many mantis from various genera that resembles a dead leaf....

(South American dead leaf mantis), A. falcata (South American dead leaf mantis), and P. paradoxa (more common known as the ghost mantis).

See also

• Flower mantis
  Flower Mantis
  Flower Mantis is a common name given to various species of praying mantis that mimic flowers including:*Acromantis formosana *Blepharopsis mendica...
  
  
• Grass mantis
  Grass Mantis
  Grass mantis is a common name mostly given to various species of praying mantis that mimic grass or other slender vegetation. Species to which this name has been applied include but are not limited to:*Glabromantis mexicana...
  
  
• Stick mantis
  Stick Mantis
  Stick mantis and twig mantis are common names applied to numerous species of mantis that mimic sticks or twigs as camouflage. Often the name serves to identify entire genera such as is the case with:...
  
  
• List of mantis genera and species