Cooloola (insect) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cooloola |
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| Cooloola propator – Cooloola monster | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Ensifera |
| Family: | Cooloolidae Rentz, 1980 |
| Subfamily: | Cooloolinae Rentz, 1980 |
| Genus: | Cooloola Rentz, 1980 |
| Species | |
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4, see text. |
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The Cooloola is a special group of insects known as Cooloola monsters. They are a type of cricket or grasshopper, but they look quite unique! This group is the only one in its family, called Cooloolidae.
These amazing insects are found only in Queensland, Australia. There are four known types, and each one lives only in certain parts of Queensland. They got their name because the first one was found in the Cooloola National Park.
Life Underground
Cooloola monsters spend almost all their lives hidden underground. Because of this, scientists don't know much about their daily lives. They are thought to hunt and eat other small creatures that live in the soil.
These monsters are unusual compared to their relatives. Most insects in their larger group (Stenopelmatoidea) have very long antennae. But Cooloola monsters have antennae that are much shorter than their bodies.
Types of Cooloola Monsters
There are four different species, or types, of Cooloola monsters:
- Cooloola dingo – This one is called the dingo monster.
- Cooloola pearsoni – This is Pearson's monster.
- Cooloola propator – This is the original Cooloola monster.
- Cooloola ziljan – This one is known as the sugarcane monster.
