Indigenous people in Papua, Indonesia, have helped scientists track down two animals that were thought to have gone extinct thousands of years ago: a relative of Australia’s greater glider and a palm-sized possum with a bizarre, elongated finger
Two marsupial species that scientists thought had gone extinct at least 6000 years ago have been found alive on the island of New Guinea. The ring-tailed glider and pygmy long-fingered possum, previously known to science only from fossils found in Australia, have now been found and photographed in the Vogelkop peninsula in Papua, Indonesia, with the help of local Indigenous communities.
at the Australian Museum in Sydney says it took him and his colleagues many years of detective work to confirm that the animals are, in fact, back from the dead, involving tantalising sightings, misidentified museum specimens and the recovery of sub-fossil remains. Recent photographic evidence and close work with local communities have finally allowed researchers to confirm the animals are actually alive, but their habitat faces grave threats from logging. Scientists know little of their exact range and ecological needs, posing challenges for their conservation.at Central Queensland University in Australia, who wasn’t part of the team, says the discoveries are “more important than finding a living thylacine in Tasmania”.. However, it has a number of fundamental differences, most notably a prehensile tail and unfurred ears, that led researchers to reclassify it in its own genus. Some of the Indigenous communities of the region regard the glider as sacred and an animal to be avoided and protected, which may have contributed to it remaining unknown to science until now.) is a beautifully striped animal with one digit on each hand that is twice as long as its other fingers. “They’ve got a whole lot of specialisations in their ear region as well, which seem to be related to detection of low-frequency sound,” says Flannery. “So presumably they’re listening for wood-boring beetle larvae, and they then rip open the rotting wood and use that finger to fish out the grub.” The exact location where the animals live is being kept secret because of the fear that wildlife traders may target the species. Flannery warns these traders against doing this. “They would be incredibly difficult to keep in captivity. because their diet is so highly specialised. Advanced warning for anyone who’s thinking of keeping one as a pet: it won’t live long,” he says.genus is as cryptic as its living presence, says Hucknull. There are 3-million-to-4-million-year-old fossil teeth from sites in Victoria and New South Wales in Australia, then a gap until 280,000 years ago, when fossils at the Mount Etna and Capricorn caves in Queensland suggest that the ancienthe says. “With its massively elongated finger and a small size that would fit in the palm of your hand, it represents a peculiar ecological role.”“I am also hugely concerned about the extent of logging and land clearing happening in New Guinea,” he says. “It also makes me wonder what might have been lost in Australia as a result of all of the land clearing that has taken place here.”Join this extraordinary adventure through the heart of Australia’s fossil frontier. Once a shallow inland sea millions of years ago, eastern Australia is now a hotspot for fossils. Over 13 unforgettable days, you’ll travel deep into the outback, tracing the footsteps of prehistoric giants and uncovering the secrets of Earth’s ancient history.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Burbank man allegedly rams vehicles and attacks officers in midday crime spreeThe 32-year-old also allegedly tried to carjack two people and assaulted two elderly people.
Read more »
Could AI Drive Indigenous Knowledge Out of Fashion?Systemic human biases filter through into AI tools used by major fashion brands, reinforcing Western ideals. Therefore, brands are less likely to have access to Indigenous knowledge, which experts say is the way forward for sustainability strategies.
Read more »
US tests 6,000-mile-range nuclear-capable missile with multiple reentry vehiclesThe U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III missile during the test to validate long-range reliability and multi-payload deployment.
Read more »
Trailblazing Black and Indigenous sculptor left her mark on BostonEdmonia Lewis virtually vanished from history when she died in 1907. A new exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum teases out the mysteries of Lewis's life while showcasing her marble sculptures.
Read more »
Kobi Halperin Fall 2026: The Animals Went in Two by TwoKobi Halperin Fall 2026 Ready to -Wear runway, fashion show & collection review. Kobi Halperin channeled Noah’s Ark in his fall collection.
Read more »
How Indigenous Peoples Won a Landmark Victory Protecting the Amazon From Oil DrillingReynard Loki is a writing fellow and the editor and chief correspondent for Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute. He previously served as the environment, food and animal rights editor at AlterNet and as a reporter for Justmeans/3BL Media covering sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
Read more »