Acanthoxyla[1] is a genus of stick insects in the family Phasmatidae (tribe Acanthoxylini).

[1] All the individuals of the genus are female and reproduce asexually by parthenogenesis.

[2] However, a male Acanthoxyla inermis was recently discovered in the UK, probably the result of chromosome loss.

The genus is endemic to New Zealand,[8] but some species have been accidentally introduced elsewhere.

The genus name Acanthoxyla translates from Greek as prickly stick (acantho = thorn; xyla = wood).