9 Animals That Look Like Leaves

Mimicry, in which an organism resembles an unrelated species, is one of the great marvels of evolution. Leaf mimicry is an especially clever form of camouflage. For some animals, looking like a leaf serves as protection from hungry predators. For others, it is a useful way to wait in plain sight for unwitting prey. The adaptation is most common among insects but can also be found in reptiles, amphibians, and even fish! Here are nine amazing examples of leaf look-alikes from around the world.

Malayan leaf frog (Megophrys nasuta), endemic to the rainforests of the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Moss mimic stick insect (Trychopeplus laciniatus), native to Central America.

Dead-leaf grasshopper (Chorotypus saussurei), native to Malaysia.

South American leaf fish (Monocirrhus polyacanthus), found in the Amazon River basin.

Leaf katydid (Pycnopalpa bicordata), distributed throughout Central America and parts of Mexico and northern South America.

Uropyia meticulodina, native to China and Taiwan.