Phyllium gantungense
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| Female Phyllium gantungense |
The Phyllium gantungense, also known locally as the Gantung's Leaf Insect, is endemic to Palawan. It was formally described as a new species in 2009, the description was based on a single female holotype specimen collected from Mount Gantung in Brooke’s Point, Palawan. This species is the most common of the three species of leaf insects occurring in the Greater Palawan Faunal Region. Recent explorations have revealed that Phyllium gantungense can also be found on the slopes of Mount Aborlan and Mount Mantalingahan in the south, as well as on Mount Salakot, Mount Stavely, and Mount Beaufort in central Palawan.
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| Male Phyllium gantungense |
Like all leaf insects, Phyllium gantungense exhibits remarkable adaptations for camouflage through leaf mimicry that allows it to blend seamlessly into its forested environment. Adults of this species exhibit a flattened body structure and irregular, vein-like patterns, and the coloration ranges from vibrant green to mottled brown, closely imitating both living and decaying leaves. Camouflage is enhanced by its behavioral traits, such as remaining motionless on a branch and swaying gently when disturbed to simulate leaves moving in the wind. Females are significantly larger than males. They possess large, broad, non-functional wings that cover almost the entire abdomen. Males have a smaller, slender build and possess functional wings that enable flights for locating food and receptive females across the forest canopy.
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| Phyllium gantungense |
The Phyllium gantungense has not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, due to insufficient data on its distribution, population size, and trends. Nevertheless, it is listed as a Vulnerable species under DENR Administrative Order 2019-09 and protected by national law R.A. 9147, or the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act" of 2001. This species was seen at elevations of around 1100 masl in Mount Stavely, but populations are more abundant in the foothills where several species of its host plants grow. Many lowland forests extending to the foothills are suffering from deforestation caused by agricultural and residential expansion, charcoal production, and certain mining activities in Palawan. This deforestation is leading to a decline in the population of this species.
