In what researchers are calling an "exceptional" scientific discovery, two species of marsupials have been found living in the remote rainforests of West Papua. The discovery includes the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider, both of which were believed to have vanished from the region approximately 6,000 years ago. These instances of rediscovering species previously thought to be extinct are referred to by scientists as "lazarus taxa," a term derived from the biblical figure raised from the dead.
The pygmy long-fingered possum is a striped marsupial weighing roughly 200g. It possesses a unique physical adaptation: its fourth finger on each hand is twice as long as its other digits. This elongated finger is a specialized tool that allows the possum to dig out wood-boring insect larvae, which serve as its primary food source. The second species, the ring-tailed glider, is a nocturnal marsupial that inhabits the hollows of tall trees. Similar to its Australian relative, the greater glider, it features a tail capable of grasping branches to navigate its arboreal environment.
This image illustrates the unique physical adaptation of the pygmy long-fingered possum described in the second paragraph.
The identification of these species relied on a combination of historical research and local knowledge. Scientists pieced together clues from decades-old fossils, rare photographs, and old specimens before visiting remote locations in New Guinea. Crucially, the research team collaborated with local elders from the Tambrauw and Maybrat clans, some of whom had limited contact with the modern world until the 1960s. One clan regards the ring-tailed glider as so sacred that they do not even mention its name. While the discovery is a major scientific milestone, the habitat of the ring-tailed glider faces increasing threats from local logging. Consequently, wildlife groups and scientists are currently working to secure native title for these forests to protect the remaining population from further habitat loss.