In a remote and lushly forested area of a single mountain range on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, scientists have discovered a carnivorous caterpillar species that makes a living in such a macabre way that they have nicknamed it the "bone collector.

There are other meat-eating caterpillars that "do lots of crazy things, but this takes the cake," the study's author said.

The carnivorous "bone collector" caterpillar is the only known species of its kind, researchers say, and its ancient lineage may soon die out.