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Lord Howe Island Phasmid nymph (Dryococelus australis) This specimen is green because it is young. It is the outcome of a successful breeding project at a local school. <br /> This fascinating species was almost extinct due to the introduction of rats to Lord Howe Island.<br /> Several specimens were rediscovered and breeding programs at three Australian zoos has revived the species. Subsequently bred in participating schools throughout Australia and now overseas has resulted in wonderful education and a healthy population. <br /> An Australian government grant has been made available to remove the rats from Lord Howe Island but locals do not feel keen to eliminate any species and the project is unlikely to proceed. The phasmids have no habitat to call home outside of schools and zoos and it seems that rehabilitation of endangered species faces challenges from unexpected places. Australia,Dryococelus,Dryococelus australis,Geotagged Click/tap to enlarge Country intro

Lord Howe Island Phasmid nymph (Dryococelus australis)

This specimen is green because it is young. It is the outcome of a successful breeding project at a local school.
This fascinating species was almost extinct due to the introduction of rats to Lord Howe Island.
Several specimens were rediscovered and breeding programs at three Australian zoos has revived the species. Subsequently bred in participating schools throughout Australia and now overseas has resulted in wonderful education and a healthy population.
An Australian government grant has been made available to remove the rats from Lord Howe Island but locals do not feel keen to eliminate any species and the project is unlikely to proceed. The phasmids have no habitat to call home outside of schools and zoos and it seems that rehabilitation of endangered species faces challenges from unexpected places.

    comments (2)

  1. View Martin Lagerwey's profile
    Martin Lagerwey
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Ferdy, I have submitted ID as "(Dryococelus australis" with single parenthesis and it has overwritten the species information page with the typo. Can you fix this? Posted 9 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Done. Please remind me to give you species management rights after the contest :) Posted 9 years ago

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The Lord Howe Island stick insect

''Dryococelus australis'', commonly known as the Lord Howe Island stick insect or tree lobster, is a species of stick insect which lives on the Lord Howe Island Group. It was thought to be extinct by 1920, only to be rediscovered in 2001 . It is extinct in its largest 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.

Info 5 0
Similar species: Stick And Leaf Insects
Species identified by Martin Lagerwey
View Martin Lagerwey's profile

By Martin Lagerwey

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Uploaded Jul 18, 2016. Captured in 15 Buckmaster Dr, Mount Evelyn VIC 3796, Australia.
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