This video was just posted, and has only 30 views, so you can be one of the first to see a nice short movie (1.5 minutes) of a lichen mantis (Oxypilus sp., sometimes called “boxing mantids”)—another amazing example of animal camouflage that is new to me. The video is by one Michael Whitehead.
h/t: Matthew Cobb
That is cool. I would like to offer two thoughts.
1) I wonder if this mantis is a ‘bird dropping’ mimic. That kind of camouflage (mimicry?) of looking like a bit of bird poo is seen in caterpillars, moths, spiders, etc. It is a way to hide in plain sight. Look up other examples of this kind of mimicry. My fav is the giant swallowtail larva. Yuck!
2) The boxing behavior might be done to flash the brightish yellow surfaces inside of its arms. Other mantids have bright colors there too. Not sure if its a display to other mantids.
The few seconds leading up to the end of the first minute is almost as if she’s looking around for the source of electronica.
For me the video evokes Indonesian shadow puppetry, which I suspect the director had in mind.
Amazing creature. Thanks
I enjoyed that. I wish there were credits so I would know who the music track was by…