Cape scientists find cockroach that can jump
Male Saltoblattella montistabularis prior to take off; male; female
Image by: Mike Picker
Image by: Mike Picker
A Cape cockroach, that can jump, has been named as one of the world's new top ten species.
The "leaproach", which can grow up to one centimetre in length, was discovered in the Table Mountain National Park by scientists from the University of Cape Town, Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday.
"Its jump is powerful... it has very strong back legs," said scientist Mike Picker of the zoology department.
It has been named Saltoblattella montistabularis. The "Montis Tabularis" refers to Table Mountain.
The cockroach has been named in the International Institute for Species Exploration's top ten new species for 2011.
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