This species is believed to be rarer than the giant panda and more valuable than gold.
Since 1982, a species of long-horned beetle known as Cheirotonus was declared extinct. However, after several decades, an elementary school student in China unexpectedly discovered a living Cheirotonus.
At the end of 2023, four elementary school students in Gan Zhou, Jiangxi Province, China were playing in a concrete construction site when they stumbled upon a gigantic beetle, roughly the size of a small child’s fist, which can be described as extremely rare.
This insect species is even rarer than the giant panda.
Prior to this, the students had been educated about insects and endangered animals, so they carefully placed the beetle in a box and handed it over to the police. As a result, the four elementary school students saved a nationally protected creature (level 2) and received commendation from the police.
This insect species can be considered very rare, even rarer than the giant panda in the populous nation. They belong to the large beetle family, measuring approximately 63mm in length and 35mm in width. It features long horns and claws. Adult specimens can reach a maximum size of 12cm.
In China, Cheirotonus is referred to as “multicolored golden turtle”, partly due to their shiny appearance, which creates beautiful colors when sunlight hits them.
Consequently, the reappearance of this insect species, after being presumed “extinct” for decades, has garnered a lot of attention. Previously, in 2004, scientists had also discovered traces of living specimens, indicating that this species, once thought to be extinct in the wild, had revived once more.
Due to their attractive appearance, vibrant colors, and gentle nature, they have caught the eye of insect collectors. In Japan and some Southeast Asian countries, many people even keep them as pets.
Notably, this “multicolored golden turtle” also has a nickname “Million Yuan Turtle” in China, as someone once wanted to buy one for 1 million RMB (approximately 320,000 USD).
