With an appearance like a tiny Pokemon, it’s no surprise that the Venezuelan Poodle Moth is loved by the internet. Discovered in 2009 by Kyrgyzstani zoologist Dr Arthur Anker, this fluffy friend made its debut on Flickr before going viral in 2012.
As soft as it looks, the moth’s fuzz is not made of hair as we know it.
Human and animal hair is made of keratin, while this moth’s coat is made from chitin – a naturally occurring polymer that helps the moth to regulate its temperature while looking beautiful in the process.
Not only that, but this white fuzz even acts as a defence mechanism. Due to the consistency of chitin, it’s much harder for bats to locate them through sonar!
