by thenewgreen

The Mercury Islands tusked weta (Motuweta isolata) isn’t exactly a thing of beauty. These massive New Zealand insects can reach more than seven centimeters in length, including the impressive tusks in front of their jaws that they use to push their prey around. But size and bullying strength didn’t necessarily help this weta, one of about 70 similar species. Although it may have once lived on the New Zealand mainland and several islands in the Mercury island group, researchers believe that invasive rats may have wiped the Mercury Islands tusked weta in all but one location. By the mid-1990s it could only be found on the 13-hectare Middle Island, where the population was estimated at fewer than 200 individuals.