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Spiny Stick Insect, Phasmid
Aretaon sp
4.05058, 114.931
Field Notes
Description:
This is an interesting spot of a Spiny Phasmid.
Its abdomen was snatched/eaten by something, probably a bird or bat.
It was still alive when I saw it, as I can see the antennae and legs moving a bit. They can continue to live without the abdomen for a few hours or even a day.
The Phasmid probably go up to the exposed area preparing to moult. They are at their most vulnerable during the moulting process, which can takes up to an hour or more and they still have to wait for a few hours for their new exo-skeleton to harden after the moulting process before they start moving.
This Phasmid could possibly be an undescribed Aretaon from Mulu National Park.
Notes:
According to the video presentation at the Park HQ of Mulu National Park, there are at least 3 millions bats living in Deer Cave, of 12 different species.
Each night, they come out to hunt and feed, eating up to 10 insects per individual!!! However, not all feeds on insects as some are feeds on fruits.
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