When most people think of ferocious predators, lizards like the Komodo dragon, with their fearsome jaws and enormous physique, come to mind. However, despite the constant aggressiveness during the hunt, the praying mantis may not even think about it. Interestingly, these two animals fight each other more often than you think, and each is equally capable of defeating the other.
Both of these animals have species that live all over the world, although they both inhabit warm deserts. In fact, they both thrive in warmer climates and even have a relatively similar range of temperaments. How else are these two animals different, besides the obvious difference in their classification?
Praying mantis and lizard comparison
In the following table, you can get an idea of the difference between a praying mantis and a lizard. Despite the fact that these two animals belong to completely different families in the animal kingdom, they both belong to different species with aggressive hunting methods. However, given that there are so many species that encompass these two animals, the range of everything from their size to their lifespan is quite wide.
Mantis | Lizard | |
---|---|---|
The size | 1-6 inches long | 2cm to 10ft |
Life span | 6 months to 1 year | 1 to 100+ years old |
Habitat | Warmer regions including deserts, grasslands and meadows. | Deserts, forests, swamps, rocky areas and prairies. |
Number of species | 1,800 | 4675 |
Animal family | Insect | Reptile |
Temperament | Varies, may be aggressive or calm. | Can be friendly or shy. |
5 key differences between a praying mantis and a lizard
To fully understand the difference between these animals, here are a few key differences that divide animals.
Praying mantis versus lizard: the skin they are in
The most recognizable feature of a reptile is its scaly skin. Regardless of which of the many species you’ve heard of, their skin is covered with layers of epidermis. These scales are enhanced by their natural keratin and are often quite leathery in texture. They often come in a wide variety of colors, including brown, bright green, and even orange. They can change color depending on their environment, for which the chameleon is especially famous.
The skin of a mantis is nothing more than an exoskeleton, often green or brown. These colors are essential to blend in with leaves and other foliage when hunting. Although they are naturally camouflaged, they cannot change color like most lizards.
Praying Mantis vs. Lizard: Bone Structure
Lizards have a completely internal bony structure, although there are some species that may have bony scales. They are especially different from other reptiles in that they have a square bone, which is the bone in the skull that is part of the upper jaw.
On the other hand, the praying mantis exclusively has an exoskeleton. There are no bones inside their bodies because the exoskeleton provides them with this support.
Praying Mantis vs. Lizard: Getting Rid of Outside Defense
Interestingly, both of these animals shed their skin as they grow. Instead of going through the nymph phase, the mantis simply removes the exoskeleton when they get too large for it. Although this stage of dropping is especially dangerous for the praying mantis if attacked, the lizard has a unique dropping mechanism that never leaves them unprotected.
This reptile does not shed right away. Instead, they peel off the skin, breaking off into several fragments. They can even shed their tails and partially regenerate them.
Mantis vs. Lizard: What’s for Dinner?
The mantis’s diet consists mainly of other insects, although they are quite aggressive in the hunt. Interestingly, many of these insects are also quite attractive to lizards, such as crickets, grasshoppers, butterflies, and beetles. Sometimes they even have praying mantises. They have an incredibly predatory appetite, and there are some species that feed on birds, small reptiles (such as lizards), and small mammals.
Lizards only have a few insects that they primarily consume, such as ants and spiders. There are even some species that eat shell-free animals, such as snails. However, they will also chase small mammals and other lizards. Among the many different species, lizards are primarily distinguished by the fact that they are omnivorous, rather than eating exclusively meat.
Praying Mantis vs. Lizard: Defense Mechanisms
Many lizards will immediately hiss to signal to predators that they should stay away. There are other techniques that vary from species to species, including puffing up the body, waving the tail, and changing color, although the latter is much less aggressive.
The praying mantis primarily relies on hiding from predators in order to survive. They will use camouflage to better blend in with them, although they can also use this technique to trick unsuspecting prey. Some species have colorful patterns that they use to distract predators.
As useful as these forms of defense are, they may not be opposed to each other. After all, videos and extensive research show that the mantis is capable of wiping out many species of lizards. In addition, a lizard can add a praying mantis to the menu for its meal.
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