By Ester Chang SENIOR KEEPER, ENTOMOLOGY
Photos by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER
How to H Hatch a Dragon
ave you heard? The San Diego Zoo has hatched dragons! I’m not talking about a Komodo dragon or any kind of lizard. I’m talking about an animal that can trace its lineage to before the time of the dinosaurs, is covered in tough armor and sharp spines, and feeds on the bodies of the dead. What kind of creature could I possibly be talking about? It’s the dragon-headed katydid Lesina intermedia from the rain forests of Malaysia. With its huge head and enormous mandibles, the dragon-headed katydid is a particularly impressive insect. Though it looks fearsome, it is a rather shy creature that spends most of the day hiding. If bothered, it will defend itself, but it is slow to bite. And no, it cannot breathe fire.
Even as a hatchling, the fierce-looking dragon-headed katydid from Malaysia has the tough armor and impressive spines to live up to its name.
To see more about these amazing insects, download the digital September issue.
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ZOONOOZ
SEPTEMBER 2014