| Paraoxypilus | |
|---|---|
| Boxer bark mantis showing red warning colours | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Superorder: | Dictyoptera |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Amorphoscelididae |
| Genus: | Paraoxypilus Saussure, 1870 |
Paraoxypilus is a genus of mantis, known as the boxer bark mantids. The reach 2–3 cm (about 1") long as adults, while nymphs reach only 3 mm (about ⅛"). This genus gets its name from the unusual way it acts like and resembles a boxer. Boxer bark mantids are black with hints of grey and white. They can mimic an ant due to its small size and its ant-like abdomen and small bumpy thorax. It does this to avoid predators and is excellent at camouflage. This species is hard to breed and to raise by the size described at present.