Mossula Katydid

The New Guinea expedition discovered up to 30 new katydid species, including a green-skinned, pink-eyed beauty that copped most of the magazine glamour shots. But the no-nonsense Mossula was the one that most impressed the scientists. Equipped with unusually large and spiny hind legs, the Mossula makes the most of its natural weaponry. When threatened, it holds its legs straight up and jabs the spines at a potential enemy. The scientists — who look none too friendly from the katydid's perspective — discovered first-hand that this hurts.

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