Scientists believe Acrophylla alta is a record-breaking insect. (Image courtesy of James Cook University)
A previously unknown giant stick insect has been found in Australia's highland rainforests. It may be the heaviest insect ever recorded in the country.
The massive creature, named Acrophylla alta by the researchers, grows to around 40cm in length. The giant insect lives in the hard-to-reach treetops of tropical North Queensland, which probably explains why it has remained under the radar of scientists for so long.
The researchers described A. alta in a recent study published June 17 in the journal Zootaxa, calling it an “impressive new species.”
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Sourse: www.livescience.com
