Is This A NEW SPECIES?!

↓ More info and sources below ↓

This is the first-ever video of what we’re calling the "hermit crab caterpillar"! We’re pretty sure this strange caterpillar is a NEW SPECIES. We went to the Peruvian Amazon to see amazing things, but we never expected this :)
But that makes me wonder: What *is* a species anyway? And how do you know if you’ve found a new species?

These people helped make this episode happen:
Ryan St. Laurent - Florida Museum of Natural History
Dr. Andy Warren - Florida Museum of Natural History
Dr. Daniel Janzen - University of Pennsylvania

LEARN MORE:

Mayden, R. L. (1997). A hierarchy of species concepts: the denouement in the saga of the species problem. In M. F. Claridge, H. A. Dawah & M. R. Wilson (eds.), Species: The units of diversity,. Chapman & Hall. pp. 381–423.

Sutton, G., & Dickson, G. (1965). Interbreeding of the Eastern and Western Meadowlarks in Central Oklahoma. The Southwestern Naturalist, 10(4), 307-310. doi:10.2307/3669307

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[besmart]

This is the first-ever video of the "hermit crab caterpillar"! Or, as I like to call it, Sir Leafs-a-lot, Knight of the Rainforest.

What would you name it?

[dylanvellut]

and the caterpillar shouting : HELP ME GUYS ! I'M STUCK IN THIS LEAF !

my name proposal : Swadloon

[RafidW]

"THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL" goddamn it, still makes me laugh. heard it so much in mid school.

[jaridkeen]

You Should Name it "Sir Knight Caterpillar!"

[luxtenax]

As soon as I saw that caterpillar it reminded me of certain moth larvae that drag around a silk-shell with them, and hide in them whenever they feel threatened.

I'm still confused as to why none of those butterflies and moth experts didn't point that out. I guess it's due to the fact that this caterpillar is using leaves found on the ground instead of building the shell out of its own silk like the moths I described.

[masterimbecile]

Are you guys gonna publish the finding in a paper at all?

[vlisto]

It needs to be illegal to damage the Amazon.

[siddharthjain]

The only video on YouTube that had a title which was intriguing yet not click bait

[oidawasnoch]

As a taxonomist/phylogenist I am impressed how great this video is! Awesome content of one of my favourite channels!

[mackss]

Thank you for finally explaining the mitochondria thing. I’ve been trying to figure out why mitochondria is being used to define a new species for hours.

[superjez]

Mitochondia are the powerhouses of the cell.

[mastercrumblefischer]

he called me smart....now i feel special :)

[Jillybean]

MITOCHONDRIA IS THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL!

That's all I remember from that unit at school.

[rdizzy]

I've seen other types of "hermit crab caterpillars" online such as the leaf case moth. Seems like all of the bag moths use whatever they have in their environment as a "house", I've seen ones made of pine needles, ones made of small sticks, broken dead leaf pieces, very few whole leaves like this though.

[ezekiel]

This stuff is so freaking neat! It's so exciting to watch as science unfolds itself. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[JoaDrath]

Is the intro an intentional nod to "Brave Wilderness" on YouTube?

[ZGames]

*THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL*

My respects, nice memed

[genthefrog]

i actually found one of these guys in my garden, it has small yellow spots on it. the thing was small, but it has a really strong grip.
the only thing i found out about them is that they like to be near trees (need more research)
also they move like a leaf that's being blown away by wind, they'll only move if you disrupt them, but wont do anything if you stare them aggressively

[sherylhosler]

I am so excited about this!!! Entomology is totally my jam - I'm assuming you took great field notes about where and when you found the caterpillars ;) Also, kudos for being able to keep it alive to adulthood - how hard was it to find an acceptable food plant? Diet specificity might give you more clues about its identity!

[EsabelleRyngin]

This is so cool! Great to see content like this that combines the hook of entomology to a larger concept for general audiences.