Tree Lobster Birth Is Disturbing, But Fascinating - Neatorama

Alex already told you the story of how tree lobsters were rediscovered after they were already believed to be extinct almost a century, but what you might not know is how creepy the creature looks while hatching. Feel free to watch, but don't be ashamed if you have to turn away.

Via io9

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They look much nicer when they're green

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It's a lot less disturbing than human child birth if you ask me.

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Why not Tree Lobster?

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Ugh,that made me feel claustrophobic. Why couldn't it get out of its cocoon?!

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That big thing came out of that little thing? How did it fit?

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Ha, you know what, I work at Carleton University (as a biologist and graduate student) in a lab that works with caterpillars and butterflies... we just had a huge discussion on this research this week, and now I see it here on neatorama! Interestingly, the memories are only preserved if they are encoded at a certain age (5th instar). Memories encoded too early will not persist after metamorphosis. It's interesting that the memories can persist because so much of the caterpillar's body (including the brain and nervous system) is drastically reorganized as it turns into a butterfly or moth... Anyway, it's pretty neat...
Yay for neatorama!!

Ombor Mitra

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