About the Project

The ZooTrophy Animal-a-Day project began on October 15th, 2013 as illustrator Angela "LemurKat" Oliver began working her way, systematically but selectively, through the alphabet and presenting, via social media, an illustrated animal to the world. Daily.

All pieces are drawn as 2.5 x 3.5 inch collectible cards, using a combination of polychromos and prismacolor pencils, along with other art materials. Many are still available for purchase ($10) or trade, so drop her an email if anything captures your eye or if there is an animal you wish to request.

It is predicted this project will take her at least two years to complete - with approximately 36 animals being drawn for each letter. She has also used the images to create a collectible hardback encyclopedia series, playing cards and a desk calendar, as well as the ZooTrophy collectible trading card game.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Creature Feature #439: Leaf Insect

Just when you thought... New Year, New Letter, LemurKat pulls a final L creature out of her menagerie! This one was inspired by an episode of QI and *may* have been what I was really thinking of when I did "Leaf Beetle", which is also a creature (or large collection of creatures) but not as interesting a Thing as this Thing.


The Leaf Insects are a Family of insects closely related to the Stick Insects. She is named for her appearance and superb mimicry, resembling a leaf so convincingly that some individuals may even have nibbled edges as they are tasted by other (presumerably rather suprised) vegetarian insects. Her wings are vestigal, aiding to her appearance whereas the males are capable of flight. The males of some species are rarely - or never - seen and females reproduce pathogenically. She will lay up to 40 eggs upon reaching maturity. These hatch into little red nymphs which will gradually turn green as they eat leaves and grow.



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