Two new synonyms in the updated checklist of Indian mantids with notes on classification

Mantis indica (Mukherjee, 1995) and Elmantis nira (Mukherjee and Hazra, 1983) are considered as a synonym of Statilia nemoralis (Saussure, 1870) and Elmantis lata (Giglio-Tos, 1915) respectively. In the former, the position of the claw-groove is in the middle like Mantis but the internal apical lobes are convergent like Statilia. In Elmantis nira, the number of tibial spines is immaterial for species status because the genitalia matches with Elmantis lata. Classification based on characters used in conventional keys is to be reviewed. Vyjayandi et al. (2008) demostrated how a character used to segregate genera is actually a variation at the species level in Gimantis authaemon (Wood-Mason, 1882). The development of big tubercular coxal spines, bands on prosternum and colouration on body parts in Hierodula coarctata (Saussure, 1869) are proved to be variable species characters. A few similar but notable variations are seen in Hierodula saussurei (Kirby, 1904). In one example of Mesopteryx alata, the discoidal spines are internally black; on prosternum, all parallel lines are not continuous up to the margin and wing length is variable. Thus this specimen is similar to Mesopteryx platycephala in the presence of internally black discoidal spines, many incomplete rays beneath the pronotum and by the presence of longer wing (as reported by Wood-Mason, 1882). This is an example of intermediacy indicating probable synonymy of the two species. Further examination of materials for morphotaxonomy (including genitalia) is needed to solve these problems. The molecular phylogeny presented by Svenson and Whiting (2009) is congruent with conventional classification for many taxa particularly at lower levels. A check-list is presented for Indian fauna (which has been due for some fifteen years after the publication of Mukherjee, et al., 1995) along with information on distribution and endemicity.