Rediscovered After 6,000 Years: Two Species Thought To Be ‘Extinct’ Found In West Papua

For over 6,000 years, two marsupial species were believed to have vanished from Earth. Now, researchers have confirmed that both are alive and well in the rainforests of the Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia, a discovery hailed as extraordinary.

Lazarus Taxa: A Remarkable Rediscovery

The groundbreaking study, led by Professor Tim Flannery of the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute and the Australian Museum, has identified the Pygmy Long-fingered Possum (Dactylonax kambuayai) and the Ring-tailed Glider (Tous ayamaruensis) as “Lazarus taxa”—species that appear to have returned from extinction.

This identification was built upon multiple sources, including a misidentified specimen at the Australian Museum collected in 1992, photographs taken by local researchers, and fossil fragments from collections worldwide.

Collaboration with Local Communities

Long-standing collaboration with researchers from The University of Papua and engagement with Tambrauw and Maybrat Elders were critical in locating the species. Local knowledge guided scientists to the marsupials’ habitats and provided insights unattainable otherwise.

“The discovery of one Lazarus taxon, even if thought to have become extinct recently, is an exceptional discovery. But the discovery of two species, thought to have been extinct for thousands of years, is remarkable,” said Professor Flannery.

Unique Characteristics of the Rediscovered Species

The Pygmy Long-fingered Possum is a distinctively striped marsupial with an unusual feature: one finger on each hand is twice as long as the others, aiding in extracting insect larvae from wood. Once native to Australia, the species disappeared during the Ice Age alongside other megafauna.

The Ring-tailed Glider, smaller than its Australian cousins, is the closest living relative of the Greater Glider. It has unfurred ears, a prehensile tail, forms lifelong pair bonds, and typically raises only one young per year. Like greater gliders, it nests in tree hollows and faces threats from logging. The species also holds cultural significance for local clans.

“Referred to locally as Tous by some Tambrauw and Maybrat clans, the glider is a sacred animal. Considered a manifestation of ancestors’ spirits and central to an educational practice referred to as ‘initiation.’ We worked very carefully and collaboratively with Tambrauw Elders and identification would not have been possible without cooperation with Traditional Owners, this connection has been essential for ongoing function,” said Rika Korain, a Maybrat woman and co-author of the paper.

Importance of Preservation

Previously known only from fossils in Australia and early Holocene specimens in New Guinea, both species were located in isolated lowland forests. “The Vogelkop is an ancient piece of the Australian continent that has become incorporated into the island of New Guinea. Its forests may shelter yet more hidden relics of a past Australia,” stated Flannery.

Supported by the Global Wildlife Fund and the Minderoo Foundation, the research highlights the urgent need to protect these critical forests. Conservationists are working with local communities to safeguard the last refuge of these rediscovered species, demonstrating the power of combining Indigenous knowledge with scientific research.