Plate 8 from "The Monograph of the Genus Phasma" by George Robert Gray
male E. tiaratum in fifth instar
E. tiaratum at the Frankfurt Zoological Garden
Extatosoma tiaratum crawling out of her old skin
Female adult E. tiaratum are covered withthorn-like spikes for defense andcamouflage. Their long, rounded bodies grow to about 5 to 8 inches (20 cm) long.[4][5] The females are further described as "heavy-bodied, brachypterousand (having) numerous spines and integumental expansions on the face and legs, including a tuft of spines on the conical occiput of the hypognathous head".[6] As mentioned, the wings of the female are too small for flying, especially when she is gravid.[1]
Exhibiting the sexual dimorphism of many similar insects (particularly otherphasmids as well as mantises), males are small and thinner, growing only about 11 cm in length and have three ocelli. Males lack the thorny growths except for spikes around their faces. They have long wings and are good flyers who readily take to the air if disturbed or in search of females.[4][7]
Both sexes, when threatened, stand on the front and middle legs, pointing their abdomen up or to the side in a sort of "scorpion" pose. They fold back their legs to defend themselves if anything comes in contact with their abdomen.[4] Adults can release a defensive odor that humans might not find offensive as it "is rather reminiscent of peanut butter, vinegar or toffee".[1]
E. tiaratum also take a curved pose when it hangs inverted amongst foliage with "its highly procrypticabdomen curled over its back."[2] Like many stick insects, E. tiaratum sway back and forth or side to side when disturbed. They also move this way to blend with foliage rustling in the wind.[1] Individual E. tiaratumvary in color and appear brown, mottled brown, fun, green, a reddish color, a cream color, a yellowish color, and even entirely white. Anything to help them blend in.[2][6]
| Exatostoma tiaratum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| E. tiaratum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Phasmatodea |
| Family: | Phasmatidae |
| Subfamily: | Extatosomatinae |
| Genus: | Extatosoma |
| Species: | E. tiaratum |
| Binomial name | |
| Extatosoma tiaratum (Macleay, 1826) | |
Extatosoma tiaratum (common names Giant Prickly Stick Insect, Spiny Leaf insect,[1] Macleay's Spectre,[2] or Australian Walking Stick[3]) is a large species of stick insect endemic to Australia.[4][5]
The species has the Phasmid Study Group number PSG9.
The species has the Phasmid Study Group number PSG9.
E. tiaratum is native to Queensland and New South Wales but has extralimital distribution as far away as New Guinea.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reptile Expert
Link: http://www.reptileexpert.org/extatosoma-tiaratum-care/
Phasmid Study Group
Link: http://phasmid-study-group.org/category/SpeciesFile-28092009/6886
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