Look at the edges first. A brown leaf may have tucked legs, a twig may have eyes, and what seems like a strip of seaweed may slowly turn and swim. These animals resemble leaves, stems, bark, moss, and underwater…
Items 30 The creator’s order
1 Pulchriphyllium giganteum Its flattened green body is wide enough to be mistaken for a whole leaf. Expanded legs contribute extra little leaf shapes around the edge, and veins help hide where the folded wings begin. Look for antennae and a jointed leg where a leaf would have a stem. 0 2 Kallima inachus When this butterfly closes its wings, the undersides show what looks like a leaf’s center vein and finer lines leading off it. Rough markings can look like damage on a dry leaf. A flash of contrasting color when its wings open gives away the outline. 0 3 Leafy seadragon Thin, leaflike appendages break up the shape of this pipefish relative. Look for its long snout, eye and nearly transparent swimming fins among the frills. It drifts like seaweed on cool rocky reefs off southern and western Australia. 0 4 Uroplatus phantasticus Its flattened tail has the shape and brown tones of an old leaf, and the small points over its eyes make the rest of its outline uneven. Follow the legs and toes to see which parts of the leaf shape actually grip branches. 0 5 Common flat-tail gecko Flattened against a tree, a large leaf-tailed gecko is easy to read as part of the bark. Flaps of skin hide the sharp edge a raised body would cast. Look for a broad head, an eye and the toes spread on the trunk. 0 6 Theloderma corticale Knobs and warts scattered across its green and dark body make it look like a loose patch of moss stuck to wet rock. Look for the round eye and bends in the toes. Its rough shape matters as much as its green color. 0 7 Long-nosed horned frog Look for a protruding snout and points above the eyes that break up the head like the pointed edge of a dead leaf. From above, those angles disappear into the leaf litter. Find the eye and the folds of the legs to see where the frog ends. 0 8 Brown leaf chameleon This small chameleon blends into brown forest litter with a low body and an angular outline. The closely spaced legs and a raised eye are often easier to see than its color. Look where the head and tail make uneven ends to the leaf shape. 0 9 Phyllocrania paradoxa A high point on the head and broad flattened lobes on the body make this mantis look like a shriveled, broken leaf. Check for the folded front legs. They can remain tucked so neatly against the torso that the false leaf outline stays intact. 0 10 Deroplatys desiccata A broad shield on the chest and wide folded wings help hide the outline of a mantis in dry leaves. Look at the way its body sits above the litter, and at the spined front legs that can open quickly from under the leaflike shield. 0 
Pulchriphyllium giganteumIts flattened green body is wide enough to be mistaken for a whole leaf. Expanded legs contribute extra little leaf shapes around the edge, and veins help hide where the folded wings begin. Look for antennae and a jointed leg where a leaf would have a stem.0
Kallima inachusWhen this butterfly closes its wings, the undersides show what looks like a leaf’s center vein and finer lines leading off it. Rough markings can look like damage on a dry leaf. A flash of contrasting color when its wings open gives away the outline.0
Leafy seadragonThin, leaflike appendages break up the shape of this pipefish relative. Look for its long snout, eye and nearly transparent swimming fins among the frills. It drifts like seaweed on cool rocky reefs off southern and western Australia.0
Uroplatus phantasticusIts flattened tail has the shape and brown tones of an old leaf, and the small points over its eyes make the rest of its outline uneven. Follow the legs and toes to see which parts of the leaf shape actually grip branches.0
Common flat-tail geckoFlattened against a tree, a large leaf-tailed gecko is easy to read as part of the bark. Flaps of skin hide the sharp edge a raised body would cast. Look for a broad head, an eye and the toes spread on the trunk.0
Theloderma corticaleKnobs and warts scattered across its green and dark body make it look like a loose patch of moss stuck to wet rock. Look for the round eye and bends in the toes. Its rough shape matters as much as its green color.0
Long-nosed horned frogLook for a protruding snout and points above the eyes that break up the head like the pointed edge of a dead leaf. From above, those angles disappear into the leaf litter. Find the eye and the folds of the legs to see where the frog ends.0
Brown leaf chameleonThis small chameleon blends into brown forest litter with a low body and an angular outline. The closely spaced legs and a raised eye are often easier to see than its color. Look where the head and tail make uneven ends to the leaf shape.0
Phyllocrania paradoxaA high point on the head and broad flattened lobes on the body make this mantis look like a shriveled, broken leaf. Check for the folded front legs. They can remain tucked so neatly against the torso that the false leaf outline stays intact.0
Deroplatys desiccataA broad shield on the chest and wide folded wings help hide the outline of a mantis in dry leaves. Look at the way its body sits above the litter, and at the spined front legs that can open quickly from under the leaflike shield.0