Dryococelus

Dryococelus
Live specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Phasmatinae
Tribe: Phasmatini
Genus: Dryococelus
Gurney, 1947
Species:
D. australis
Binomial name
Dryococelus australis
(Montrouzier, 1855)

Dryococelus australis, commonly known as the Lord Howe Island stick insect or tree lobster,[2] is a species of stick insect that lives on the Lord Howe Island Group. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Dryococelus. Thought to be extinct by 1920, it was rediscovered in 2001.[3] It is extirpated in its largest former habitat, Lord Howe Island, and has been called "the rarest insect in the world", as the rediscovered population consisted of 24 individuals living on the small islet of Ball's Pyramid.

  1. ^ Rudolf, E.; Brock, P. (2017). "Dryococelus australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T6852A21426226. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T6852A21426226.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Stohr, Stephanie (February 9, 2009). "Tree lobster came from ancient sunken island". Cosmos Magazine. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Priddel2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).