Leaf insect facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leaf insectsTemporal range: Eocene - Recent
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| Phyllium from the Western Ghats | |
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Phyllioidea
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Phylliidae
Redtenbacher, 1906
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The family Phylliidae (often misspelled 'Phyllidae') contains the living true leaf insects or walking leaves, which include some of the most remarkable leaf mimics in the entire animal kingdom. They occur from South Asia through Southeast Asia to Australia. There are different views about their taxonomy.
Characteristics
Leaf insects use camouflage to take on the appearance of a leaf. They do this so accurately that predators often aren't able to distinguish them from real leaves. In some species the edge of the leaf insect's body even has the appearance of bite marks. To further confuse predators, when the leaf insect walks, it rocks back and forth, to mimic a real leaf being blown by the wind.
They and stick insects go together in the Order Phasmatodea.
The scholar Antonio Pigafetta may have been the first to document the creature. Sailing with Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigational expedition, he studied and chronicled the fauna on the island of Cimbonbon as the fleet hauled ashore for repairs.
Images for kids
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Leaf insect (Pulchriphyllium species) in Pakke Tiger Reserve
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Nanophyllium asekiense, female from the collection of D. Größer
See also
In Spanish: Insectos hoja para niños
