Six-Legged Giant Finds Secret Hideaway, Hides for 80 Years (2012)
What I don't fully understand is, usually when scientists try to preserve rare species, there is a critical mass under which there isn't enough genetic diversity to preserve the species (I've seen ~30 quoted for some rare mammals).  But in this case, just two individuals were able to start a viable population.  Why are these insects different?  I can only think of a couple reasons...<p>- since these insects have a r-selection curve, it's ok if 90% of the offspring are genetic defects, you can always produce another 1,000 eggs<p>- the insects had maintained such a small population for so long that any critical defects had been bred out<p>But I'd be interested to hear from a real biologist.<p>Edit: oops, meant r-selection, not k-selection