Bizarre Poodle Moth Fascinates...and Frightens

A Venezuelan poodle moth is mystifying researchers, baffling the internet, and confusing everyone at a first casual glance.

The insect, seemingly a blend of a large moth and a bright, fluffy white poodle, was discovered in 2009 and may be a new species.

Bizarre poodle moth fascinates ... and frightens ... the masses online

The "Venezuelan poodle moth" is a possible new species of moth discovered in 2009 in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela by Dr. Arthur Anker of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Images of the fuzzy moth discovered by Dr. Anker took the Internet by storm in August 2012

It's been compared to a fluffy dog, a Pokemon character and a Power Rangers villain

but whatever it is, the Venezuelan poodle moth has captured the Internet like Mothra in a bad Japanese movie. Now it's up to the experts to figure out exactly where this moth belongs on the tree of life.

The first thing to emphasize is that the poodle moth is no phony concoction like the jackalope, dogerpillar or chupacabra

Its cute, furry, scary look is totally in line with what's expected for a neotropical ornamental moth. In fact, cryptozoologist Karl Shuker found a similar picture of a white, fuzzy critter known as Diaphora mendica, or muslin moth, a member of the lepidopteran family Arctiidae.

A weird looking creature, the Poodle Moth was discovered in Venezuela. One of the weirdest moths on earth, it and has become an internet sensation for both it's uniqueness and adorableness.