The Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) is a captivating species native to Africa and Madagascar, renowned for its uncanny resemblance to dead, withered leaves. This camouflage helps it evade predators and ambush prey with stealth and precision. Reaching just 4–5 cm in length, it’s a relatively small mantis with a sculpted, leaf-like body and a crown-like head crest. Ghost mantises are calm, sit-and-wait hunters and surprisingly easy to keep, thriving in modest humidity and well-ventilated enclosures. Their peaceful nature even allows for communal housing under the right conditions.