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Ancient insects used advanced camouflage

Started by heathyr , Dec 28 2006 09:07 PM

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#1    heathyr

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Posted 28 December 2006 - 09:07 PM

Attached File  insect_camouflage.jpg   8.63K   40 downloadsA fossil of a leaf-imitating insect from 47 million years ago bears a striking resemblance to the mimickers of today.

The discovery represents the first fossil of a leaf insect (Eophyllium messelensis), and also shows that leaf imitation is an ancient and successful evolutionary strategy that has been conserved over a relatively long period of time.

Scientists led by Sonja Wedmann of the Institute of Paleontology in Bonn, Germany, unearthed the remains at a well-known fossil site called Messel, in Hessen, Germany. The 2.4-inch-long insect had physical characteristics similar to the oblong leaves of trees living there at the time, including Myrtle trees, legumes, such as alfalfa, and Laurel trees.

http://thothweb.com/article-4390--0-0.html
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#2    Pax Unum

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Posted 28 December 2006 - 09:20 PM

very interesting find!

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#3    snuffypuffer

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Posted 03 January 2007 - 09:52 PM

Groovy. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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#4    Mattshark

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Posted 03 January 2007 - 10:00 PM

It is an interesting find, it is not so suprising however. I think this is more Natural World than crytids however.
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#5    coldethyl

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Posted 03 January 2007 - 10:03 PM

^^  Agreed.

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#6    ~Onyx~

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Posted 03 January 2007 - 10:05 PM

It's fascinating...as long as I don't find one crawling on my arm...then it's history.
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#7    Mattshark

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Posted 03 January 2007 - 10:06 PM

Quote

It's fascinating...as long as I don't find one crawling on my arm...then it's history.

Mantis are cool, they can sit and follow your finger for hours it is great.
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#8    ~Onyx~

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Posted 03 January 2007 - 10:16 PM

Quote

Mantis are cool, they can sit and follow your finger for hours it is great.


They can follow YOUR finger for hours...respectfully speaking, of course. tongue.gif
"You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be unconfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering."

#9    Mattshark

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Posted 03 January 2007 - 10:30 PM

Quote

They can follow YOUR finger for hours...respectfully speaking, of course. tongue.gif

grin2.gif lol
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#10    frogfish

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Posted 04 January 2007 - 01:48 AM

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#11    Isis2200

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Posted 06 January 2007 - 05:26 PM

Hi Heathyr:

Such an interesting article.  I guess this also means that most of the trees' leaves have become smaller over time, and so the leaf insect has adapted.

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#12    frogfish

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Posted 06 January 2007 - 06:15 PM

Why do tree leaves have to become smaller?

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