Chien C. Lee

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  • Leaf insect (Phyllium agnesagamaae) , male. Unlike their larger and more heavily bodied female counterparts, male Leaf Insects (family Phyllidae) have fully developed wings and are capable of flight. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A juvenile leaf insect (Nanophyllium australianum) from the rainforest of Iron Range National Park. Queensland, Australia.
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  • A juvenile leaf insect (Nanophyllium australianum) from the rainforest of Iron Range National Park. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Phyllium bioculatum.  Leaf insects (family Phylliidae) are found in tropical forested areas in South and Southeast Asia.  They are slow-moving foliage eaters and rely on their incredible camouflage for defense.  West Java, Indonesia.
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  • Leaf insect (Phyllium zomproi), juvenile. Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Leaf insect (Cryptophyllium oyae), male. Usually considerably rarer than the flightless females, male Phyllium can also be distinguished by their narrower body shape and long antennae. The taxonomy of many Phyllium species remain poorly studied due to how infrequently they are observed. Ha Giang, Vietnam.
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  • Among the most cryptically camouflaged of all invertebrates, leaf insects (Phyllium spp.) are difficult to find in their natural habitat. Many new species have been described from Southeast Asia in recent years. This is a subadult female (P. arthurchungi) from the rainforest of northern Borneo.
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  • With uncanny precision, this grasshopper (Chorotypus sp.) displays its mimicry of a dead leaf down to the finest details. Why do some organisms go to such extreme lengths for their camouflage while others can get by with a much simpler appearance? The answer of course is largely due to what they are hiding from: there is a direct correlation between the detail of camouflage and the visual acuity of their specific predators. In this case, the sharp eyes of small insectivorous birds, like the hands of a master craftsman, provide the driving force to some of the most eccentric insect appearances. Batang Ai, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In the Borneo rainforest, leaves are not always what they seem. Here, a beam of sunlight filtering down from the canopy illuminates an extraordinary insect. Officially described and named just last year, this leaf katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum) is one of two species in its genus on mainland Borneo that share the unusual wings and leaf-like legs, rendering it a marvel of animal crypsis. Although this male specimen is lime-green, females bear a striking pinkish coloration. Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Remarkable moss mimicry of a Madagascan stick insect (Antongilia lacinata). Visual camouflage adaptations such as this are predominantly aimed at protection from diurnal predators, hence these insects usually conceal themselves by day on mossy tree trunks. At night they roam about on the understory vegetation completely exposed while foraging for fresh leaves to feed on; their extravagant crypsis inconsequential in total darkness. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Giant Prickly Stick Insect (Extatosoma popa). Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Once their camouflage has failed, many insects resort to an alternative strategy - trying to make themselves appear as large and intimidating as possible. This harmless leaf katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium) from the Borneo rainforest is attempting to do just that by standing on its head and spreading its translucent wings. Male Tympanophyllum katydids are renowned for the loud and eerie violin-like calls they make, which adds to the magical abience of the Bornean rainforest at night. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Nearly invisible, this katydid’s (Arnobia sp.) patterned wings and profile match almost seamlessly with the corrugated texture of the leaf on which it perches. There is increasing evidence that some insects actively seek out substrates which maximize their camouflage, but exactly how they achieve this in a bewildering microcosm of varied colors and a range of predators that have better eyesight than they do remains unclear. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In the understory of the Amazonian rainforest, a small piece of dead vegetation hanging beneath a leaf is revealed to be a camouflaged mantis (Metilla coloradensis) guarding her egg case (ootheca). Parental care like this in insects is a rare thing: it occurs in only about 1% of all species because as it is possible only for those which produce a smaller number of offspring. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • When approached by a potential predator, these amazingly camouflaged leaf grasshoppers (Chorotypus sp.) align their flattened bodies with the leaf they are perched on and remain completely still to accentuate their mimicry. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Frog-legged Leaf Beetle (Sagra buqueti), male. Among the most beautiful of all beetles, a jeweled frog-legged leaf beetle perches on foliage in the Borneo rainforest. With over a dozen species in the genus, Sagra beetles are characterized by their metallic colors and enlarged hind limbs. Rather than being jumpers as their name would otherwise suggest, their spiny hind legs are used in defense and probably also male-male combat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys trigonodera). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Frog-legged Leaf Beetle (Sagra buqueti), male. Among the most beautiful of all beetles, a jeweled frog-legged leaf beetle perches on foliage in the Borneo rainforest. With over a dozen species in the genus, Sagra beetles are characterized by their metallic colors and enlarged hind limbs. Rather than being jumpers as their name would otherwise suggest, their spiny hind legs are used in defense and probably also male-male combat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hidden from predators and prey alike, a brown leaf mantis (Brancsikia aeroplana) is almost indistinguishable from the dead leaves of the rainforest floor. Once believed to be related to Southeast Asia’s brown leaf mantids (Deroplatys) this species is now placed in the unrelated Madagascan endemic family Majangidae; its cryptic appearance thus representing another case of convergence. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae). Kibale National Park, Uganda.
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  • Leaf beetle (Promechus whitei). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Leaf grasshopper (Systella sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf beetle (Callicolaspis heros). Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Leaf katydid (Typophyllum mortuifolium), female. Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys moultoni). Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hispine leaf beetle (Alurnus dallieri). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
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  • Leaf katydid (Cratioma oculatum), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium), female. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf beetle (Trichochrysea hirta). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum), juvenile. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys cf. lobata) standing guard over her egg sac. Such behavior might enable her to deter parasitoid wasps from destroying her brood, a common threat for mantises. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With delicate precision, a female leaf katydid (Phyllomimus sp.) uses her blade-like ovipositor to open a slit in the stem of a wild ginger (Etlingera velutina) where she will insert her eggs. The young, like miniature versions of their mother but without wings, will disperse soon after hatching. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Leaf katydid (Sathrophylliopsis longepilosa), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In the Borneo rainforest, a leaf isn't always what it seems. Many tropical trees and shrubs have pale or reddish young leaves as part of a strategy to deter herbivory: the absence of green chlorophyll reduces their nutritive value. Here, an orange morph leaf-legged katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum) mimics this exact foliage type. This insect  has been found to have a variety of colorations ranging from green to yellow and red, an adaptation that probably makes it more difficult for their predators to learn a fixed search image for any particular color. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • As some of the most vital sensory organs among insects, it's no wonder that antennae come in a great variety of shapes and sizes to suit their various specializations. Here, a male Callirhipid beetle displays his extravagant feelers which are over half the length of his body. Like the feathery antennae of some male moths, this shape is designed to maximize the surface area to enable detection of even the faintest pheromones of distant females. However, unlike moths, these 'flabellate' (fan-like) antennae can be neatly folded away for protection when they're not needed, such as when the beetle is burrowing under bark or in rotten wood. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Pulchriphyllium fredkugani, male. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A column of worker termites transport portions of masticated leaves back to the colony.  This species (Longipeditermes longipes) plays an important role in the recycling of leaf litter on the rainforest floor. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf of Colocasia gigantea with round holes left by feeding Chrysomelid beetle (Aplosonyx ancora). The beetle bites circular leaf trenches to drain the leaf of its toxic latex prior to consumption. Ha Giang, Vietnam.
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  • Incredible camouflage of a neotropical epiphyll-mimicking katydid (Clepsydronotus deciduus). Ephiphylls are tiny plants and lichens that grow on the surfaces of leaves in tropical rainforests, usually being detrimental to their host because they block light to the leaves. Having selected such an epiphyll-ridden leaf, the katydid is able to blend with the mottled colors and rough texture to conceal itself despite being completely exposed on the upper surface. Notice also how the katydid has carefully folded its long threadlike antennae under itself – if they were to stick out then the insect could be much more easily discovered by sharp-eyed birds. Choco, Colombia.
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  • Not all gaudy appearances are a disguise – some are simply a warning. Quite a number of moth species deceptively mimic the shape and color of stinging insects (such as wasps and bees), but others such as this Window-winged Moth (Glanycus coendersi) don’t appear to resemble any particular model. Instead, the bright aposematic coloration of this insect is believed to be a bold advertisement of its distastefulness. This defense works as an effective signal to predators, thereby allowing the moth to exploit other lifestyle advantages such as foraging during daylight hours (e.g. this is a diurnal species) while other moths must retreat into hiding until nightfall. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-cutter Ants (Atta laevigata) return to their nest carring sections of leaves which will be used to feed their underground fungus gardens. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Looking as if it were dipped in liquid gold, a jewel scarab (Chrysina argenteola) almost seems more mineral than insect. Renowned for their remarkable colorations, Chrysina beetles fetch high prices among collectors, with some species and color variations fetching hundreds of dollars. Recent research into the metallic nature of their exoskeletons reveals that it possesses unique properties in the way it reflects polarized light, essentially being 'optically ambidextrous'. The reason why they have such unusual colorations still remains a mystery, although it has been suggested that the highly reflective surface may serve to camouflage them under the right lighting conditions, or even perhaps dazzle predators. Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • A katydid (Promeca sp.) utilizes its excellent camouflage coloration to blend in with the lichens and epiphylls on the surface of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-mining beetle (Botryonopa sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mossy masquerade: a young Moss Mimic Katydid (Championica montana) doing what it does best. If you specialize in eating moss it’s a big plus if you look like it as well. In the damp cloud forests of Costa Rica, every surface is covered with dripping wet bryophytes, such as the leaf this katydid is perched on. Although abundant, it’s not the most energy rich food in the world, so these insects conserve their energy by moving slowly while they graze. Faced with a potential threat, they simply lay flat against the mossy substrate and disappear. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • An elegantly camouflaged katydid from the rainforests of Borneo: Despoina spinosa. This species feeds primarily on the foliage of figs (Ficus spp.) and can somehow get past the toxic white latex that protects these leaves from most other insects. Some 'sylvan katydids' (Pseudophyllinae) such as this are able to rotate and flatten their wings, enabling them to conceal their profile against the surface of a leaf when at rest. Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Despoina spinosa, male, on leaves of Ficus sp. This katydid (family Tettigoniidae) sleeps by day on the undersurface of a large fig leaf, using its perfectly camouflaged semi-translucent wings to conceal itself from predators. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-mimic katydid (Typophyllum sp.), male. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Leaf-mining beetle (Anisodera sp.), mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A view from within the pitcher of this semi-carnivorous plant (Nepenthes ampullaria). Without a protective lid as in most other species of Nepenthes, the pitchers of N. ampullaria are exposed to rain as well as a continual fall of leaf litter from the forest canopy. In this way they are able to derive a significant portion of their nutrients from detritus. The dark objects on the inner rim are pupae of a Megaselia fly whose larvae feed on dead insects within the pitcher fluid. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although cryptically disguised as a dead leaf when at rest, the Peacock Katydid (Pterochroza ocellata) packs a big surprise for its secondary defense. When disturbed, it raises its wings to expose strikingly colored eyespots, which can be enough to startle a potential predator away. This large katydid exhibits a great deal of intraspecific variation such that the wing patterns and camouflage of no two individuals are ever the same, and entomologists at one time had described over a dozen species that are now attributed to P. ocellata. These variations in coloration help to prevent any predator from learning a search pattern to recognize this species and its defense. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Katydid (Tympanophyllum atroterminatum), male concealing itself by laying flat on the underside of a leaf of its food plant (Ficus lepicarpa) during the day. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although cryptically disguised as a dead leaf when at rest, the Peacock Katydid (Pterochroza ocellata) packs a big surprise for its secondary defense. When disturbed, it raises its wings to expose strikingly colored eyespots, which can be enough to startle a potential predator away. This large katydid exhibits a great deal of intraspecific variation such that the wings patterns and camouflage of no two individuals are ever the same, and entomologists at one time had described over a dozen species that are now attributed to P. ocellata. These variations in coloration help to prevent any predator from learning a search pattern to recognize this species and its defense. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Platycerium madagascaeriense, one of the most bizarre endemic plants of Madagascar. Like other staghorn ferns, this species is strictly an epiphyte, growing among the canopy branches of tall trees. It is becoming increasingly rare and difficult to find in the wild because of widespread deforestation in the wet submontane forests of the east coast. The unusual ruffled texture of the shield fronds is probably an adaptation to allow passageways for ants to live underneath – a relationship that is mutually beneficial for both plant and insect. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • With forests full of keen-eyed predatory birds, many of Madagascar’s smaller creatures have evolved incredibly cryptic appearances to evade detection. In the case of this Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa), the remarkable leaf like mimicry serves also to conceal it from potential prey, which will be seized and eaten alive if they venture too close. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Earth-boring dung beetle (Blackburnium rhinoceros), male. This unusual dung beetle is a member of the family Geotrupidae, often referred to as the earth-boring dung beetles. They are known for laying their eggs in burrows which are sometimes provisioned with leaf litter or dung. Wasur National Park, South Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • A giant leaf katydid (Pseudophyllus hercules), one of the world's largest, rests in the rainforest understory. Active only at night, they use their superb camouflage to remain undetected by predators during the day. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Translucent katydid (Lacipoda immunda), male concealing itself on the undersurface of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A small female praying mantis (Aetaella sp.) standing guard over multiple ootheca she has laid on the underside of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With its gaudy appearance and bold stance on top of a leaf, one might think that this tiny metalmark moth (Brenthia sp.) would make easy prey for a small predator like a jumping spider. However, if you blur your eyes just a little, you might be able to see why jumping spiders hesitate before attacking these moths: their wing patterns look remarkably similar to another jumping spider. Note particularly the “fuzzy legs” (dark bands) held to the side and the eyespots with reflections at the top. Jumping spiders may not have as acute eyesight as we do, but they are nevertheless visually-oriented predators, and they also avoid risky conflicts with others of their kind. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Raising its wings in an aggressive and intimidating display, this large raspy cricket (Capnogryllacris borneoensis) is merely bluffing - it has no venomous sting or chemical defense. Distinguished in their own family (Gryllacrididae), raspy crickets are strictly nocturnal; by day they hide in leaf shelters which are constructed with the aid of silk threads secreted from their mouthparts. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • As if fashioned from liquid gold, a nearly mature Nymphalid butterfly chrysalis (Euploea sp.) hangs from the underside of a ginger leaf. Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • This unusual male katydid (Tympanophyllum atroterminatum) conceals itself by flattening its wings against the surface of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Golden Forest Ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon) has been killed by a parasitic Ophiocordyceps fungus which has consumed its body. Before dying, the behaviour of infected ants is controlled by the fungus, and are directed to climb to a suitable location usually on the underside of a leaf. There the fungus kills its host and produces fruiting bodies which releases spores to infect more ants below. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Almost looking like it belongs more on a coral reef than in a rainforest, this moth caterpillar (Idonauton cf. apicalis) uses bright aposematic patterns to warn potential predators of its stinging bristles. Caterpillars of this family (Limacodidae) are often called ‘slug moths’ because they lack prolegs and instead move over the surface of a leaf in an oozing-fashion using suckers. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A sleeping habit shared with many other solitary bee species that don't have a hive to return to at night, this Orchid Bee (Euglossa sp.) passes the night suspended in the air by biting into a leaf. In addition to their beautiful metallic colorations, Euglossine bees are remarkable for their mutually-dependent relationships with orchids from which they derive unique fragrances essential for their courtship. Utría National Natural Park, Choco, Colombia.
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  • Keeping its wings outstretched and rotating erratically on the surface of a leaf, this tiny metalmark moth (Brenthia sp.) pulls off a surprisingly good mimicry of a jumping spider and its movements. Lab tests have demonstrated that jumping spiders, which normally constitute a major predator for small moths, will usually avoid Brenthia since an encounter with another spider could lead to a perilous confrontation. Yunnan, China.
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  • Almost looking like it belongs more on a coral reef than in a rainforest, this moth caterpillar (Idonauton cf. apicalis) uses bright aposematic patterns to warn potential predators of its stinging bristles. Caterpillars of this family (Limacodidae) are often called ‘slug moths’ because they lack prolegs and instead move over the surface of a leaf in an oozing-fashion using suckers. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The impressive Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus celebensis) is the largest agamid lizard in the world, reaching over 1 m in length.  They are very agile swimmers and are seldom found far from rivers.  They feed on leaves and insects. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • The enormous caterpillars of the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) consume huge amounts of leaves before they will pupate. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Under the cover of darkness, a female katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium) uses her stout ovipositor to deposit eggs under tree bark where they will be concealed from predators. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Lacipoda immunda), male. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Lacipoda immunda), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tortoise beetles (Basiprionota decempustulata), mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tortoise beetle (Basiprionota decempustulata). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Looking like a bunch of trilobite sarcophagi, a cluster of tortoise beetle pupae remain huddled together as they wait to pupate into adults. Although blind, immobile and otherwise defenseless in this stage, each pupa is capable of flexing its body up and down when disturbed, and the combined motion of the entire group may serve to befuddle a potential predator or parasite. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Tortoise Beetle (Thlaspidosoma dohrni). Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tortoise beetle (Stolas excelsa). Mashpi, Ecuador.
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  • With night vision hundreds of times more sensitive than ours and the ability to discern color even in near total darkness, Madagascar’s leaf-tailed geckos (Uroplatus spp.) are superbly adapted as nocturnal insect hunters. Large eyes, however, demand special maintenance. Like most geckos, Uroplatus have no eyelids and cannot blink; instead, they utilize their long tongues like windshield wipers, keeping their eyes moist and clean. This is a young male Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. phantasticus), a denizen of the island’s rainforest zone and a superb mimic of dead foliage. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • A study on perfection in mimicry: a Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus). One of 14 species of leaf-tailed geckos endemic to Madagascar, this nocturnal insectivore utilizes its incredible camouflage to hide among dead foliage by day. All Uroplatus geckos are under severe threat from deforestation and over-collecting for the international pet trade. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • A master of camouflage, the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) is almost completely undetectable when it is at rest on a small tree in the forest understory. Frilled flaps of skin along its body break up its outline, making it appear nearly seamless with the tree on which it rests. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • A master of camouflage, the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) is almost completely undetectable when it is at rest on a small tree in the forest understory. Frilled flaps of skin along its body break up its outline, making it appear nearly seamless with the tree on which it rests. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko (Saltuarius cornutus). Queensland, Australia.
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  • Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) from Masoala National Park. Antsiranana, Madagascar.
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  • A Giant Forest Ant (Dinomyrmex gigas) receives a droplet of sweet honeydew from the abdomen of a juvenile leaf-footed bug (Notobitus sp.). The bugs, which obtain more sugar than they need from the plant juices they feed on, are fiercely guarded by the ants in return. Mutually beneficial trophobiotic relationships such as this are very advantageous in the competitive ecosystem of the rainforest. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Paracycnotrachelus sp. Some beetles of the extremely diverse family leaf-rollers (families Attelabidae and Rhynchitidae, numbering several thousand species) are called Giraffe Weevils due to their long necks. They measure only 1-2cm in total length. Uthai Thani, Thailand.
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  • The warning coloration of these juvenile Leaf-footed Bugs (Prionolomia sp.), which have a noxious taste to predators, is accentuated by their tightly grouped behavior. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dead-leaf moth (Oxytenis albilunulata). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador.
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  • Leaf-legged Katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum), female. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-masquerading lappet moth (Gastropacha leopoldi). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-like pygmy grasshopper (Holoarcus belingae). Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • You might think that an animal with an excessively long neck would be predisposed to unfortunate injuries, but such eccentricities in body form can become justified in the competitive arena of sexual selection. This tiny Bornean weevil (Cycnotrachelus satelles), closely related to the famous Giraffe Weevil of Madagascar, uses his lengthy neck in wrestling matches to dislodge rival males off their food plants during mating season. Having intimidating physical attributes can sometimes mean combat is not even necessary: males have been observed facing off, nodding their heads (the necks are hinged in the middle) before one makes a retreat. The females, which are not thus pressured by competition, have much shorter necks. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), male. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Deep within spiral of an unfurled Ravenala leaf, a Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat (Myzopoda aurita) roosts in safety. With its adhesive pads it is able to cling to the smooth surface of the leaf where even insects cannot find a foothold. In this way, Myzopoda are remarkably free of the ectoparasites which plague most other bat species. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
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  • Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus). Like a miniature porcupine, these indomitable tiny mammals protect themselves from predators by an armament of barbed spines. They feed on insects and other invertebrates which they find in the leaf litter of the forest floor using their long sensitive snout. All species of tenrec are endemic to Madagascar. Mantadia National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Carefully sequestered on a perch not far above the rainforest floor, a Moyer’s Pygmy Chameleon (Rhampholeon moyeri) sleeps by night safely hidden from prowling nocturnal predators. Measuring less than 6 cm in total length, these are some of the smallest and most camouflaged in Africa – by day when they hunt for insects on the ground they are nearly invisible among the leaf litter. Recent research has shown that there is a surprising amount of diversity among Rhampholeon chameleons (26 currently recognized species), many of which are restricted to their own isolated mountain ranges. . Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.
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  • Deep within spiral of an unfurled Ravenala leaf, a Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat (Myzopoda aurita) roosts in safety. With its adhesive pads it is able to cling to the smooth surface of the leaf where even insects cannot find a foothold. In this way, Myzopoda are remarkably free of the ectoparasites which plague most other bat species. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
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  • Males of the Madagascar's Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) can usually be distinguished by their elaborately notched tails, a trait which gives them better mimicry of a leaf that has been partially eaten by insects. Exactly why this is a sexually dimorphic feature in these geckos is unknown, but in some animals different camouflage patterns in males and females can arise where each sex spends their time hiding in different locations and thus face differing selective pressures on their appearance. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Males of the Madagascar's Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) can usually be distinguished by their elaborately notched tails, a trait which gives them better mimicry of a leaf that has been partially eaten by insects. Exactly why this is a sexually dimorphic feature in these geckos is unknown, but in some animals different camouflage patterns in males and females can arise where each sex spends their time hiding in different locations and thus face differing selective pressures on their appearance. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Deep within spiral of an unfurled Ravenala leaf, a Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat (Myzopoda aurita) roosts in safety. With its adhesive pads it is able to cling to the smooth surface of the leaf where even insects cannot find a foothold. In this way, Myzopoda are remarkably free of the ectoparasites which plague most other bat species. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
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