'Living fossil' found: One of Earth's rarest mammals rediscovered in Indonesia

Interesting Engineering ^ | June 13, 2025 | Mrigakshi Dixit

[SunkenCiv]

Scientists have confirmed the rediscovery of Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, a species previously thought to be extinct for over 60 years.

This ancient, egg-laying mammal was found deep within the rainforests of Indonesia.

It is scientifically known as Zaglossus attenboroughi and named after the legendary naturalist David Attenborough.

Echidnas, characterized by their spiky fur and beaks, are often referred to as "living fossils" due to their ancient lineage, believed to have originated around 200 million years ago during the time of dinosaurs...

In 2023, during an Oxford University expedition to the remote Cyclops Mountains — located 2,000m (6,561ft) above sea level — a glimmer of hope emerged...

During June and July 2023, the team conducted camera-trap surveys in the Cyclops Mountains, setting up 73 camera traps across a 7 km² area...

These cameras captured it: 110 photographs from 26 separate events – irrefutable proof that Attenborough's long-beaked echidna was alive and thriving in the Cyclops Mountains.

The long-beaked echidna is one of just five living species of egg-laying mammals on Earth.

These creatures belong to an ancient lineage called monotremes, which diverged from other mammals (marsupials and placental mammals) more than 200 million years ago.

[Diogenesis]

[Diogenesis]

[SunkenCiv]

I agree, cute. :^)

[Bonemaker]

"Living fossil' found:..."

[BobL]

“Might be tasty, baked with some sweet potatoes and onions.”

I’ll stick with Steak, Ragu when I can afford it.

[Steely Tom]

I remember (I think it was during the 90s) when we were told that the burning of the "Amazon Rain Forest" was wiping out 15,000 plant and animal species every day.

[Getready]

Or the truly fossilized relative is possibly not that old....

[SunkenCiv]

Which was weird, because at the rate of destruction, the Amazon rain forest would have been gone 3x by now. :^)

[Getready]

So cute.

The following is optional reading:
As an aside the first platypus specimens sent to England in 1798 and examination in 1799 made some of the observers think the pelt specimens were a hoax made by sewing a duck bill onto a beaver pelt...some dissectors were looking for stitch work...never found...
Since the echidna and the platypus are the last known(?) surviving monotremes, genetic studies have revealed a not that close relationship in genes present between the two...a fascinating observation.....
FMI and FYI

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Rainforest shmainforest. (One of my favorite South Park episodes.)

[Jemian]

I can certainly attest that Cyclops, also known as Gunung Baboku, is NOT that remote. And, from the rate of growth in my yard, which is on a ridge extending off the southern slope of Cyclops, the rain forest isn't disappearing anytime soon. My house and my family might disappear, because the rainforest grows so fast! If I stepped outside my house and traveled approximately 12 miles due north, I would arrive at the Pacific ocean. On the eastern end of Cyclops is the capital of Jayapura, formerly known as Hollandia. On the western end is Depapre. There are homes all throughout that southern slope. The airport which services the province is at the foot of Cyclops. I'm just saying it is not really remote.

There are hidey places within the mountain, which is rather rugged, for the echidna to exist. I haven't yet seen one.

If you wish to double check where I live, go to Ivy Manor East and that is my house.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

[PIF]

believed to have originated around 200 million years ago during the time of dinosaurs...

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Imagine the stories they could tell ...