Called a dead leaf mantis after its habit, if startled, of dropping to the floor of the jungle and remaining motionless...it is a master of camouflage with its leafy protrusions and resemblance to dried up dead leaves Varies in colour from mottled brown through to a very dark brown that is almost black This creature's camouflage is helped by its movements as well as its appearance as if the wind is blowing it gracefully rocks as if a leaf being blown in the wind. This mantis also has a startling threat display with inner wings which are black with large eyespots, which when opened give the impression of a much bigger animal often frightening away unsuspecting small predators. Females grow to 75-80mm long. Displaying the sexual dimorphism typical of mantises, males grow only 65-70mm long and are substantially smaller and lighter than females. Females� prothorax shields end in a sharp pointed curve on each side while the males have a diamond shape. Dessicata inhabits scrubland and forests in Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sumatra.
Taxonomic Classification- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Mantodea
- Family: Mantidae
- Sub Family: Deroplatyinae
- Genus: Deroplatys
- Species: DESSICATA (Beier 1935)
