4 ms·
Yes, and it is noted in the article: Praying mantises have occasionally been observed to feed on vertebrates, including small birds, lizards, frogs, newts, mice
by random42_ 8y ago
Yes, and it is noted in the article: Praying mantises have occasionally been observed to feed on vertebrates, including small birds, lizards, frogs, newts, mice, snakes and turtles.
But many of these cases have either not been scientifically validated or have occurred under human-manipulated circumstances. And there is no previous scientific data of mantises preying on fish.
- DoofusOfDeath 8y agoI don't understand what they mean for it to be "scientifically observed".
- lostlogin 8y agoI wonder what reaction the authors would get if the paper they submitted was entirely based on watching Youtube?
- comesee 8y agoI think the "preying on fish" part is key here not "scientifically observed." A captive mantis eating a fish placed in front of it is different from a wild mantis specifically hunting fish.
- drb91 8y agoPerhaps merely “in a reproducable fashion”.
- gweinberg 8y agoWell, the youtube video clearly"occurred under human-manipulated circumstances".
- daveFNbuck 8y agoThat probably just means observed by a scientist. If I report seeing a praying mantis eat a fish, that's not as reliable as if I have a video or if a trained scientist makes the same report.