Australian researchers identify two new stick insect species in Queensland
Study reveals Anchiale robusta was hiding in plain sight for decades; five species now recognized where two were thought to exist.
What to know
- Australian researchers identified two new large stick insect species—Anchiale robusta and Anchiale mabiensis—in far north Queensland, with findings published in Austral Entomology.
- Anchiale robusta, which had been popular among enthusiasts for years, was revealed to be a case of mistaken identity after decades of being misclassified.
- The study found that five distinct species exist where scientists had previously recognized only two, narrowing the habitat ranges and raising conservation concerns.
“Males are always smaller than females – it's incredibly rare for a female to be able to still fly because they are quite heavy with … eggs.”
Dr Braxton Jones, Lead researcher, University of Sydney · The Guardian ↗
Dr Braxton Jones Lead researcher, University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney research team Researchers
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Anchiale mabiensis described with unusual egg structure
The second newly described species, Anchiale mabiensis, lives in the critically endangered Mabi rainforest of Queensland's Atherton tablelands. Females reach about 11–12cm in length. The species is notable for eggs with an unusual structural "lid" that detaches when the insects hatch.
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first by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2d ago · also ABC Australia, The University of Sydney, ScienceAlert, Menafn, Inshorts
8 more headlines
- Two new stick insect species emerge from Queensland forests ABC Australia · 2d ago
- Two new large stick insect species discovered in Australia's backyards and rainforests Phys.org · 2d ago
- Two New Stick Insect Species Discovered in Australia Sci.News · 2d ago
- New stick insect species revealed in Australia's backyards and rainforests The University of Sydney · 1d ago
- Two New Large Stick Insect Species Found in Australia, Including One Misidentified For 50 Years ScienceAlert · 1d ago
- Two New Giant Stick Insects Discovered In Australia After Decades Of Mistaken Identity Menafn · 13h ago
- 2 new stick insect species discovered in Australia Moneycontrol.com · 13h ago
- 2 new stick insect species found in Aus, one of them 'fooled' scientists for decades | 3rd species was reinstated | Inshorts Inshorts · 13h ago
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Research reveals five Anchiale species where two were thought to exist
By describing two new species and confirming the existence of a third, the team discovered that what were once considered two species are in fact five species distributed across habitats stretching from northern New South Wales into tropical north Queensland. This finding has important conservation implications, as the species are found in smaller habitat ranges than previously thought.
“That finding had important conservation implications, given that the species are found in smaller habitat ranges than previously thought.”
— Dr Braxton Jones -
background
Study reveals Anchiale robusta was misidentified for decades — One of the newly described species, Anchiale robusta, had long been popular among enthusiasts and scientists but was actually a case of mistaken identity. DNA analysis combined with museum collections, citizen science records, and field surveys revealed the insect had been misidentified for decades. Females grow to 12–16cm, males to 9–10cm, with mostly black wings and some purple on the hindwing underside.
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background
Researchers identify two new Anchiale stick insect species in Queensland — Australian researchers from the University of Sydney published a study in Austral Entomology describing two new large stick insect species found in far north Queensland: Anchiale robusta and Anchiale mabiensis. The discovery illustrates how much remains unknown about insect diversity.
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first by The Guardian, 2d ago · also Guardian Science, Guardian