Evolutionary mechanisms for camouflage in Cladomorphus phyllinus (Phasmatodea): A reflection on the role of evidence for hypotheses proposition

Abstract We address and discuss some of the many flaws exhibited by Costa et al. (2019) which tried to explain the twig-like camouflage of Cladomorphus phyllinus. Given the lack of both empirical and theoretical underpinnings in Costa et al. (2019), we call into question the validity of their conclusions, in particular, that horizontal gene transfer is a causal mechanism for the camouflage in C. phyllinus.