In a groundbreaking discovery, biologists have confirmed the existence of the long-lost long-beaked echidna, scientifically known as Zaglossus attenboroughi. This remarkable egg-laying mammal, which has been presumed extinct for over 60 years, is believed to date back an astounding 200 million years. Named in honor of the renowned English broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, this species was first spotted during an expedition by Oxford University in 2023 in the Cyclops Mountains, a rugged rainforest located in Indonesia.
The confirmation of the long-beaked echidna's presence was made possible by a combination of cutting-edge technology and invaluable indigenous knowledge. Researchers published their findings in a recent paper in the journal NPJ Biodiversity, highlighting the significance of their discovery. The species had not been officially recorded since a dead specimen was found over six decades ago; however, there have been signs of its existence throughout the region in recent years.
In 2007, a significant breakthrough occurred when a research team discovered nose pokes—distinctive trace signs made by echidnas as they forage underground for invertebrates—in the Cyclops region. Additionally, various indigenous groups have reported sightings of the long-beaked echidna over the past twenty years, further fueling interest in the species' survival.
Between 2022 and 2023, researchers employed innovative camera trapping techniques to gather photographic evidence of the long-beaked echidna. The deployment of camera traps in the Cyclops Mountains yielded an impressive total of 110 photos documenting 26 distinct individual events. These findings provided the concrete evidence needed to continue the quest for this previously lost species.
The long-beaked echidna is one of only five known egg-laying mammals in existence today, alongside the platypus and two other modern echidna species. These mammals represent the last remaining members of the monotreme lineage, which diverged from therians—marsupials and placental mammals—over 200 million years ago. Historically, the long-beaked echidna was also found in the Oenaka Range of Papua New Guinea, but the Cyclops Mountains are currently the only location where this species has been recorded in modern times.
According to the researchers, there are currently over 2,000 so-called lost species—species that have gone undocumented for extended periods. The rediscovery of the long-beaked echidna offers renewed hope that other elusive species may still survive, particularly in regions where biological research has been limited. This remarkable finding underscores the importance of continued exploration and the integration of local knowledge in efforts to protect and document biodiversity.
