A creepy-crawly insect known as the “tree lobster” was thought to be extinct for 80 years, then — surprise! — researchers found a small colony living near an Australian volcano.
The Lord Howe Island walking sticks are called “tree lobsters” because of their hard exoskeletons, and because they look just a little bit like a lobster.
Also, watching one hatch will give you the willies.
Zoo keepers at the Melbourne Zoo have been nursing a small population of the insects since their rediscovery, but it’s not clear when or if they’ll be reintroduced into the wild.
Apparently, Australia’s rat population finds them pretty tasty.