# Scientists Discover a 98-Million-Year-Old Mantis With 'Leaves' on Its Abdomen, Trapped in Amber

Source: [ScienceAlert](https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-a-98-million-year-old-mantis-with-leaves-on-its-abdomen-trapped-in-amber) · 2026-11-14 · Life
Page: https://themorning.science/story/scientists-discover-a-98-million-year-old-mantis-with-leaves-on-its-abdomen-trap-8afbf497212bf303
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In brief

- Scientists described a mantis preserved in amber that is about 98 million years old.
- The insect has leaf-like structures on its abdomen.
- The source describes it as the earliest known example of mantid mimicry.

## Why it matters

The find pushes back the documented record of mantis mimicry, giving paleontologists evidence of camouflage strategies in a much older lineage.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-14: ScienceAlert reports the discovery of the 98-million-year-old mantis in amber

## Coverage

- [Scientists Discover a 98-Million-Year-Old Mantis With 'Leaves' on Its Abdomen, Trapped in Amber](https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-a-98-million-year-old-mantis-with-leaves-on-its-abdomen-trapped-in-amber) — ScienceAlert, 2026-11-14

Tags: paleontology, amber fossils, mantises, mimicry, cretaceous

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science