New Zealand Discoveries

 While in New Zealand the naturalists aboard the "Pegasus" recorded a great many native species of flora and fauna. New Zealand's native species evolved for 80 million years without any mammalian predators - this allowed some of the native animal species the perfect opportunity to grow to enormous size. This is termed "gigantism". 

Below: Giant stinging Beetle - Steampunkus Prodontria zealandia
 
Below - Giant Sandfly - Steampunkus ungulatum zealandia

Below - Giant Stinging Cicada - Steampunkus amphipsalta zealandia
 
Below - Giant Cave Spider - Steampunkus cavernicolia zealandia
 
Below: Giant Stag Beetle - Steampunkus Somarakone zealandia
 
Below: Giant Weta - Deinacrida heteracantha
 
 

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