The extraordinary specimen is the larvae of the pink underwing moth, an endangered species fighting for its life in the Australian rainforest.
Luckily, botanist ecologist and photograper Lui Weber managed to snap the rare caterpillar, which is characterised by a chilling set of teeth-like markings set between spots that look like eyes with large pupils.
Caterpillar of the pink underwing moth with skull-like features, found below the altitude of 600m in undisturbed, subtropical rainforests in Australia
The extraordinary specimen is the larvae of the pink underwing moth, an endangered species only found in the Australian rainforest.
Found below the altitude of 600m in undisturbed, subtropical rainforest, the species survives on the vine Carronia multisepalea, a collapsed shrub that provides the food and habitat the moth requires in order to breed.
Lui said: 'Sadly this moth is very rare I only know of a single adult seen last year so I do not have photographs of the adult yet.
'This southern subspecies is listed as nationally endangered in Australia.'
All but one of the habitat locations of the moth are in south-eastern Queensland, distributed from Nambour to the Queensland-NSW border, but Lui says more discoveries are being made.
'I was only known to breed in a single location in upland rainforest however this year I have discovered another three locations and a colleague has located one additional site making five locations in total.'
The New South Wales government has placed the caterpillar on its endangered list.
'Potential breeding habitat is restricted to areas where the caterpillar's food plant, a native rainforest vine, Carronia multisepalea, occurs in subtropical rainforest,' it said.
'Adult Pink Underwing Moths require the darkness supplied by the vine and other rainforest vegetation in order to breed.'
The government is now investigating a breeding programme to increase numbers.
Found below the altitude of 600m in undisturbed, subtropical rainforest, the species survives on the vine Carronia multisepalea
The rare caterpillar is characterised by a chilling set of teeth-like markings set between spots that look like eyes with large pupils.
The unique caterpillar is fighting for its life and have been found in just five locations
Found below the altitude of 600m in undisturbed, subtropical rainforest, the species survives on the vine Carronia multisepalea, a collapsed shrub that provides the food and habitat the moth requires.
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