Alex Hyde / Head and forelegs of tropical Katydid {Tettigoniidae} photographed on white background. Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Charlie Summers / Sea otter (Enhydra Lutris) with forelegs raised, Sitka Sound, Alaska, USA, August.

Alex Hyde / Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys dessicata) subadult in threat display, photographed against a white background, orginating from South East Asia. Captive.

Chien Lee / Jumping Spider (Myrmarachne maxillosa) mimicking ant waving its forelegs to mimic antennae of the ant, Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Nick Upton / Sawfly (Tenthredo sp) with tatty wings using its forelegs to groom its mouthparts after pollen feeding on Common hogweed / Cow parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium). Wiltshire, UK, June.

Thomas Marent / Katydid (Tettigoniidae) cleaning forelegs, Virolin National Park, Colombia

Mark Moffett / Mantid (Mantidae) side view showing red patches on forelegs, Myanmar (formerly Burma)

Piotr Naskrecki / Stilt-legged Fly (Micropezidae) rubbing forelegs together to clean them, Guinea, West Africa

Piotr Naskrecki / Giant Helmeted Katydid (Phyllophorella woodfordi) climbing on limb with brown ear membranes visible on forelegs, Solomon Islands

Jane Burton / Common Frog (Rana temporaria) tadpole with fully developed limbs, the forelegs ready to burst out of opercula (one toe of the right limb is already out)

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) resting during dry season, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) resting, head on feet, during dry season, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.