Leptomantella tonkinae is a species of praying mantis within the family Leptomantellidae. Originally described by Morgan Hebard in 1920, it is characteristic of its genus, which was recently promoted to the family level in 2019. 
 
Physical Characteristics
Leptomantellids, including L. tonkinae, are distinguished by several specific morphological features: 
Head: Distinct, rounded juxta-ocular bulges.
Wings: Mostly hyaline (transparent) or subhyaline.
Spines: Possession of four discoidal spines on the forelegs. 
 
Geographic Distribution
The species is primarily found in Asia, with specific records from: 
China: Samples have been collected from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County) and Northern Guangdong.
Southeast Asia: Recorded in Indonesia (Gunung Leuser National Park) and Thailand (Mae Ngao National Park and Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary). 
 
Biological Research
As of 2022, the complete mitochondrial genome of L. tonkinae was sequenced, measuring 15,527 bp in length. This research confirmed that its gene arrangement is identical to primitive mantises and robustly supports the monophyly of the Leptomantellidae family as a sister clade to the group containing Amorphoscelidae and Nanomantidae.