heathyr Posted December 28, 2006 #1 Share Posted December 28, 2006 A 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pax Unum Posted December 28, 2006 #2 Share Posted December 28, 2006 very interesting find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snuffypuffer Posted January 3, 2007 #3 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Groovy. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattshark Posted January 3, 2007 #4 Share Posted January 3, 2007 It is an interesting find, it is not so suprising however. I think this is more Natural World than crytids however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldethyl Posted January 3, 2007 #5 Share Posted January 3, 2007 ^^ Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Onyx~ Posted January 3, 2007 #6 Share Posted January 3, 2007 It's fascinating...as long as I don't find one crawling on my arm...then it's history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattshark Posted January 3, 2007 #7 Share Posted January 3, 2007 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Onyx~ Posted January 3, 2007 #8 Share Posted January 3, 2007 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattshark Posted January 3, 2007 #9 Share Posted January 3, 2007 They can follow YOUR finger for hours...respectfully speaking, of course. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogfish Posted January 4, 2007 #10 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Nature is Amazing: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isis2200 Posted January 6, 2007 #11 Share Posted January 6, 2007 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. http://ashiana.conforums.com/index.cgi ~ Isis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogfish Posted January 6, 2007 #12 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Why do tree leaves have to become smaller? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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