La phyllie géante de Malaisie est une grande espèce d'insecte qui vit dans les forêts pluviales tropicales occidentales de Malaisie. Cette espèce fait preuve de capacités de camouflage extraordinaires ! Surnommée également insecte-feuille, elle a évolué afin de se camoufler dans le feuillage des arbres dans lesquelles elle vit. La femelle, qui mesure 12 cm de long, est large et plate. Elle dispose de petites ailes vestigiales qui ne lui permettent pas de voler. Le mâle, quant à lui, mesure environ 9 cm de long et est bien plus élancé. Il a de longues ailes et peut voler.
Latin Name
Phyllium giganteum
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Animal Facts
The giant Malaysian leaf insect is very docile and spends most of its time still and unreactive, which further improves its camouflage.
The giant Malaysian leaf insect lives in the Taman Negara rainforest which is 130million years old and one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
While moulting, the giant Malaysian leaf insect is very vulnerable and can easily die if the temperature or humidity of the environment are not ideal, or if they are touched while their bodies are still soft.
Females do not require males to reproduce and can breed asexually, but all the offspring will be female in this case.
The first male giant Malaysian leaf insect was not discovered until 1994, therefore comparatively little is known about the males of this species.