Ancient Marsupials Reemerge in New Guinea After 6,000 Years
TL;DR
Researchers have rediscovered two marsupial species—the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider—in New Guinea, after about 6,000 years of presumed extinction. Documented in studies led by Tim Flannery, the finds label them Lazarus taxa and underscore New Guinea’s role as a haven for ancient biodiversity. The work also spotlights urgent conservation needs amid deforestation and wildlife trade, with Indigenous communities aiding in locating and identifying these species.
- Two Species Thought Extinct for 6,000 Years Are Found Thriving in New Guinea Indian Defence Review
- Tiny possum and glider thought extinct for 6,000 years found in remote West Papua BBC
- Marsupials found alive after 6,000 years of extinction Australian Museum
- 2 'Lazarus' animals thought to be extinct for over 7,000 years found alive in New Guinea NBC News
- Marsupials previously thought extinct for millennia discovered in New Guinea The Guardian
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