Praying mantis ambush hunting explains their spring-loaded raptorial forelegs.

Evidence

Weapons in ambush predators experience very different selection from weapons in other predators. Instead of running, swimming, or flying fast to catch prey, ambush predators snatch them with a quick strike from claspers. As a result, many have large weapons. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 956 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Like piranhas, ambush predators no longer chase after prey to hunt them down. In fact, most of them don’t run or swim fast at all. Instead, they lurk motionless, often blending spectacularly with their backgrounds like a hunter in a blind, waiting for prey to come to them. When unlucky edibles happen by, these predators lunge from their hiding places, striking out with a snap of their jaws or a flick of their legs to snatch and incapacitate prey before they even recognize what is happening, much less have time to escape. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 113 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Ambush predators evolve large weapons because they strike rather than chase prey — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 956; Ambush predators sacrifice locomotion speed for close-range striking power — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 113

Related

• Ambush predators sacrifice locomotion speed for close-range striking power (similarity 0.86)
• Ambush predators evolve large weapons because they strike rather than chase prey (similarity 0.86)
• Ambush predation releases predators from chasing speed, allowing extreme weapon evolution. (similarity 0.85)
• Ambush predators depend on appendage speed more than body speed (similarity 0.84)
• Loss of pursuit hunting drives evolution toward heavier jaws and teeth (similarity 0.80)
• Smilodon was a heavy ambush predator of lumbering large prey. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Ambush predators evolve large weapons because they strike rather than chase prey #corroborates (0.80) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 956
• Ambush predators sacrifice locomotion speed for close-range striking power #corroborates (0.70) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 113