
Creature of the Gear
Stuff To Blow Your Mind
00:00
The Issus Coleopterus Jumps Far and Fast
The issus coleopterus is an insect known as a plant hopper. The juveniles of this species have these interlocking gear teeth on their back legs, which allow them to rot their legs in perfect synchronization when they are setting up a jump. It's not clear exactly what predator this is most adapted against. But there it is, probably some kind of survival defensive adaptation that this creature needs to be able to jump far and jump fast.
Play episode from 41:51
Transcript


