Dead-leaf mantis

Deroplatys desiccata is a Southeast Asian praying mantis with a flattened, irregular body and leaf-like markings that resemble dead foliage.

Masquerade: A form of camouflage in which an organism resembles an inedible or irrelevant object. The mantis resembles dead foliage rather than merely blending into its background.
Mantodea: An insect order containing praying mantises, known for grasping forelegs and mobile heads. Deroplatys desiccata belongs to this order of predatory insects.
Deroplatys lobata: A Southeast Asian praying mantis in the genus Deroplatys, also known for leaf-like camouflage. It is a close relative with a similarly flattened, leaf-like form.
Animal camouflage: An adaptation that reduces an animal’s visibility or recognition by other organisms. The mantis exemplifies camouflage through a striking resemblance to dead leaves.
Crypsis: An adaptation that reduces an organism’s detection by predators or prey. Its leaf-like outline and coloration make the mantis harder to detect.
Deroplatys: A genus of Southeast Asian praying mantises that includes leaf-mimicking species. The dead-leaf mantis is one species within this genus.
Deroplatys truncata: A species of praying mantis in the Southeast Asian genus Deroplatys. This congener provides another example of the genus’s unusual body shapes.
Visual ecology: The study of how organisms use and respond to visual information in their environments. Its disguise depends on what predators and prey can visually distinguish.
Defensive display: A behavior or posture that changes an animal’s appearance to deter a threat. When threatened, the mantis can expose contrasting markings and spread its limbs.
Insect exoskeleton: The external cuticle that supports and protects an insect’s body. Its flattened body and leaf-like lobes are formed by the exoskeleton.

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Flower mantisCompared with: It illustrates a different form of plant-based concealment among mantises.