Leaf insect, Indonesia
© kuritafsheen/RooM/Getty Images
Leaf insect, Indonesia
Did our homepage image make you do a doubletake? That’s what this copycat had in mind. You’re looking at a leaf insect, a highly skilled mimic that lives in the rainforests of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Its camouflaged appearance helps it blend right in with the foliage it likes to frequent, protecting the bug from predators like birds and reptiles. Even its gait is deceptive—the leaf insect rocks back and forth when moving, much like the swaying of a leaf in the breeze.
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