I am off to Augusta today to discuss the (in)compatibility between science and faith. If you’re there and have a book, don’t forget the secret word.
In the meantime, reader George sent me a superb case of mimicry, posted on Neatorama’s Facebook page.
I’ll leave it to the readers to identify it:
Looks like a leaf mantis to me. Probably one of the rhombodera…
I take that back – it’s definitely a phylliidae.
I’ll see if I can find species
Think it’s this one:
Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) Bioculatum
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38255616@N06/8160375578
It is a Phyllium giganteum
google images cannot lie 😉
a superb case of mimicry…
Indeed. That looks just exactly like a human hand!
Mind-blowing!
Phyllium bioculatum
I would tear that up and put it on my pasta.
All flesh is herb, mon.
Or roll it and smoke it.
Of course parsimony demands assuming that random mutation and genetic drift are the cause of this monstrosity. Molecular biologists study this. They wear white lab coats and must be right. To say colors provide camouflage without knowing anything about developmental genetics, molecular biology, or cladistics is mere ignorant dogmatic adaptationism. Remember, appearances deceive.
Monstrosity? That’s pretty arrogant. And they were described centuries before the first synthesis of an organic molecule, let alone any understanding of DNA. Guess where they were found? Among leaves.
It’s a joke! He’s parodying neutralists, not supporting them.
And doing so effectively.
I think he’s a sock puppet of Larry Moran 🙂
Sounded like phosphorous under a new alias to me.
this is a gorgeous case of mimicry; i have never seen a leaf mimic, with multiple smaller leaves; note what appear to be eyespots on the leaves on the first pair of legs; it would give the insect the extra protection of subliminally (or even consciously) frightening a would-be predator; the never-ending beauty of the natural world and the never-ending complexity of good old deceit and self-deception
I’d say the person holding the critter does some digging around in plants. There’s a ragged cut on the middle finger which could have been caused by something like a thorn or sawgrass.
OOPS! That’s not a cut–it’s an insect foot! Mea culpa.
I do like the simulation of black leaf-rot around the edges. Nice touch.
Now we know how herbivores became carnivores.
‘That’s a tasty looking leaf!’ Nom, nom, ‘Shit! That’s GOOD!’
Evolution is not so hard to ‘esplain.
Looks like an Eophyllium. But those are extinct. But definitely part of the Phylliidae family.
I’m going with Phyllium giganteum also.
Cool, it’s a leaf mimicking a mantis!
Amazing.