James says he knows of no animals outside this family that mimic plants.
Male orchid mantis, Malaysia.
Researchers say the colours of the orchid mantis are “indistinguishable” from those of the flowers found in its habitat.
The orchid mantis is found in Malaysia, in low-density forest.
Recent research led by Dr James O’Hanlon, an ecologist at Macquarie University in Sydney, suggests that the orchid mantis attracts 30% more insects than the flowers it mimics.
The Malaysian orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) imitates a flower in order to lure pollinators, say researchers.
Home News Gallery: Mantis that mimick orchids attract more prey than the real thing
The fossil, hidden underground since the Ice age, has been brought to the surface in a precarious and meticulous mission executed by a team of intrepid scientists.
Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the year. But some nights are better than others.
Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate relationship of different species living together. It’s much more common and older than many of us might realise.
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From cuddly companions to realistic native Australian wildlife, the range also includes puppets that move and feel like real animals.