Phyllocrania illudens

[Colorcham427]

Any experience with this species? Native to Madagascar.

http://www.phototem.com/moteur/zoom.asp?pre=5498&NumPhoto=5499&suiv=5501&motscles=92

 

[gripen]

guess whats also native to Madagascar? phyllocrania parodoxa. it is probably a synonym.

 

[rs4guy]

Looks like your typical Ghostie to me....

 

[psyconiko]

It is a synonym "rediscovered" by Saussure&Zehnter in 1895.It appears Burmeister give the original name in 1838 if my sources are good.

 

[Zelthan]

looks different to me

 

[Colorcham427]

It IS different, not sure how the rest of you do not see that???

 

[gripen]

Can you please share what you see different?

 

[sinensispsyched]

Its crest is shaped differently, and its wings reach far past the abdomen.

 

[gripen]

Crest is from mis moult I think.

 

[sinensispsyched]

True, although, mismolts seem to happen rarely in the wild, at least compared to captivity.

 

[sinensispsyched]

The edges of the leafy camouflage also seem softer edged, whereas the ghost's edges seem more jagged.

 

[jcal]

I don't see it. Looks like a ghost.

 

[Colorcham427]

Mis-molts don't end up symmetrical.

 

[lunarstorm]

We need more pictures, with much greater detail. The single picture presented in Brian's original post is unfortunately small and too poor of a quality to properly discuss a new species.

 

[psyconiko]

http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=1478245

Found this a few days ago.Hard to tell,it is not adult but the head shape look a bit different.

It appears there is another synonym:Phyllocrania insignis Westwood 1843

 

[sinensispsyched]

True!

 

[gripen]

i still say the are all the same...

 

[psyconiko]

Yes me too.But perhaps there are some sub species in the northern islands of Madagascar(Seychelles...)?

 

[gripen]

you could be right. i have noticed variations in shields but that is it. that being said they can still mate with each other.