CARACAS – A photo of an unusual and rather strange looking animal captured by a scientist in Venezuela had many wonder if the picture was even real.
But evidence proves the photo is real and so is the cute little bug that looks more like a fuzzy hairball and someone’s house pet than an actual moth.
Is it a dog? Is it a bird? No, it’s the newly discovered Venezuela Poodle Moth. Photo Credit: Photo News
The critter known by the equally cute name ‘Venezuela Poodle Moth’ was captured on film on Januray 1 2009 in the Venezuelan rain forest by zoologist Arthur Anker from Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
Anker’s poodle moth photograph and other insect snapshots he took appear in his ‘Venezuelan Gran Sabana‘ photo-set and also in his ‘Neotropical Moths‘ photo-set.
The scientific name for the insect is still not known although some scientists speculate the Poodle Moth may belong to the D. mendica specie.
Thousands of new insects are discovered every year in the South American rain forests.