The largest butterfly in the world, Queen Alexandra's birdwing lives up to its name with a wingspan of over 1 foot.

 

Found only in remote regions of Papua New Guinea, the first specimen ever found was taken down using a shotgun. Though it was only discovered in the West in 1906, this gentle giant is already considered endangered by the IUCN, primarily because of encroaching development in its native habitats, mostly from palm oil plantations.