Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis

Deroplatys dessicata is a Southeast Asian mantis whose entire body has converged on a perfect dead-leaf disguise. The thorax expands into a broad leaf-shaped shield with curled edges, simulated brown 'damage' marks, and patterns mimicking leaf veins. Wing covers continue the leaf-veined pattern. When at rest on the forest floor, the mantis is essentially invisible — she just looks like a fallen brown leaf among many other fallen brown leaves. When she walks, she sways side to side, mimicking a leaf moving in the breeze; predators have evolved to ignore moving leaves, so the swaying gait actively reinforces the camouflage. Dead leaf mantises are ambush predators: they wait on the forest floor for small insects to walk past, then strike with the typical mantis raptorial forelegs. Females are larger (8 cm) than males (5 cm). Like most mantises, females are sometimes cannibalistic during mating. The species is a popular captive insect, both for the visually striking appearance and the gentle behavior.