Nature is fascinating, and some of Nature’s best work—or evolution rather—is illustrated by animals that have evolved adapted to mimic leaves. Leaf mimics use an extraordinary type of camouflage to evade detection from predators or prey. These animals mimic leaves by using leaflike color patterns, modified exoskeletons, and cryptic behavior. You can see more fascinating examples of animal camouflage here.

INVERTEBRATES AS LEAVES

The “dying” leaf-mimic katydid below is a fascinating creature, and evolution natural selection has endowed it with the ability to mimic a dying leaf.

“Dying” leaf-mimic katydid image was found here and here.

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Dead-leaf butterflies are extraordinary creatures to observe. The specimen below illustrates how adaptation through natural selection, which is a driving force of evolution, has helped the dead-leaf butterfly evolve to better evade predation by mimicking a dead leaf.

The dead-leaf butterfly image above was found here, but the actual image is by ToddinNantou on Flickr.
Image found here

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The images and videos below show various species of leaf- and stick-mimicking mantises, including a dead-leaf mantis (Deroplatys desiccata) and a violin mantis subadult (Gongylus gongylodes). The leaflike appearance of these mantises is extraordinary.

Photo source for attribution here

The image above showing a dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys desiccata) camouflaged amongst some leaf litter was taken by Adrian Pingstone, and found here.

Violin mantis subadult was taken by Laurentiu on Picasa, and found here.

VIDEO: Leaf Mantis at 04:45:

VIDEO: A violin mantis catching a fly:

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A leaf-mimic katydid mimics a decomposing leaf instead of a dying leaf.

“Decaying” leaf-mimic katydid image (©Martin Shields) was found here and here.

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Leaf insects, or walking leaves, from the family Phylliidae are some of the best examples of leaf mimics.

Phyllium sp. image above by Sandilya Theuerkauf
Photo source for attribution here

Phyllium giganteum

Phyllium giganteum image by Drägüs was found here.

VIDEOS of walking leaves:

From LiveScience: Ancient insects used advanced camouflage:

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.

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An unidentified species of dead-leaf insect

The unidentified dead leaf insect image by Amaury Olivier Laporte was found here.

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This leaf-mimicking katydid was photographed in Costa Rica.

Photo source for attribution here

Undergrowth dead-leaf katydid (Orophus sp.), Barro Colorado Island, Panama

The images below show several small-leaf katydids (Pseudophyllinae) from Peru and the Peruvian Amazon. The last image in the series shows a dead-leaf katydid nymph, which is an immature specimen.

The image showing the undergrowth dead-leaf katydid (Orophus sp.) and the series of images showing the small-leaf katydids were taken by artour_a on Flickr.

This katydid resembles a green leaf.

This katydid image is by Mjlaff on Flickr.

This peacock katydid’s (Pterochroza ocellata) exceptional resemblance to a dead leaf is remarkable, but if its camouflage fails and a predator realizes it’s a potential meal, the peacock katydid has another trick — it will quickly flash a pair of false eyes, by opening its wings, to startle the predator.

The peacock katydid images are by Piotr Naskrecki on Flickr.

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The children’s stick insect (Tropidoderus childrenii) is found in Australia, and it mimics leaves of a particular species of Eucalyptus.

Photo source for attribution here

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Not all invertebrate leaf mimics are insects. For example, this cuttlefish is doing an excellent job of mimicking a leaf.

Photo source for attribution here

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VERTEBRATES AS LEAVES

Can you find the leaf-mimic frog? Leaf mimicry isn’t exclusive to vertebrates.

The first two leaf-mimic frog images are by ©Wolf Holzmann and were found here and here. The third leaf-mimic frog image is by Hank & Priscilla Brodkin and was found here.

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The Uroplatus, a genus of gecko that’s endemic to Madagascar, are sometimes referred to as leaf-tailed geckos. The first image shows an individual hibernating during cooler Malagasy weather, and it uses its tail to mimic a leaf or to camouflage itself as it hibernates.

Photo source for attribution here and here
Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) image found here

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The South American leaf fish (Monocirrhus polyacanthus) uses camouflage, mimicry, and stealth to hunt its prey. To capture its prey, it will patiently wait in the water column at an angle or sideways to mimic a dead leaf (note the individuals in the background).

The first image showing some leaf fishes in an aquarium was found here. The second leaf fish image was found here, and the third image was found here.

Video: The South American leaf fish uses its camouflage and stealth to hunt prey.

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This robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) mimics a blade of sea grass, and it rests at an angle similar to the South American leaf fish above. Ghost pipefishes are relatives of the seahorses and display some of the best camouflage found in nature. Much like the weedy and leafy sea dragons, ghost pipefishes are very ornate and showy. You can find more images of ghost pipefishes here.

Photo source for attribution here

Photo source for attribution here

Photo source for attribution here

Photo source for attribution here

Photo source for attribution here

Photo source for attribution here

There are two robust ghost pipefishes in this image:

Photo source for attribution here

Photo source for attribution here

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