Leaf insect, Indonesia

Leaf insect, Indonesia

© kuritafsheen/RooM/Getty Images

Leaf insect, Indonesia

Did our homepage image make you do a double take? 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 Australia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. 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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