Range:

Throughout Madagascar

Habitat:

Under rotting logs and leaf litter on the forest floor.

Characteristics:

Male hissing cockroaches sport large horns, which give them an unusual and impressive appearance.  They use these horns in aggressive battles similar to big horn sheep.  The males ram each other with their horns and hiss at each other.  The more a roach hisses, the more likely it is to win.

 

Behavior:

Hisses are also emitted for communication with other cockroaches, mating, and when threatened by predators.  They produce the hiss by forcing air out of small holes on their abdomens called spiracles.  It is emitted a ta leve of 90 decibels!

Interesting Facts:

Hissing cockroaches are one of nature's best recyclers.  These insects aid in decomposition, build soil and clean the forest floor by feeding on fallen decaying fruit and vegetation.  Although they are not currently threatened, the forests that they live in are one of the most threatened habitats in the world due to agricutlural expansion and mining.