Lost Marsupials Rediscovered in New Guinea

Two marsupial species once thought extinct for more than 6,000 years have been astonishingly rediscovered in the forests of New Guinea. The pygmy long-fingered possum (Dactylonax kambuayai) and the ring-tailed glider (Tous ayamaruensis) were previously known only from fossil remains, but recent fieldwork has confirmed that both species are alive today.

The Pygmy Long-Fingered Possum

This tiny possum is distinguished by its elongated finger—twice the length of its other digits—used for extracting insects and nectar. First described from fossils in 1999, its survival was confirmed when mislabelled museum specimens were re-examined and later photographed in 2023. Its rediscovery highlights how overlooked species can persist in remote habitats.

The Ring-Tailed Glider

Closely related to Australia’s greater gliders, this species is unique enough to warrant its own genus, Tous. Indigenous Tambrauw and Maybrat peoples have long recognized the glider, considering it sacred and linking it to ancestral spirits and initiation rituals. Its rediscovery underscores the importance of traditional ecological knowledge in modern science.

Scientific and Cultural Impact

Professor Tim Flannery, who led the studies, described the simultaneous rediscovery of two “Lazarus taxa” as unprecedented. These findings expand our understanding of marsupial evolution and distribution, while also demonstrating the value of collaboration with Indigenous communities. Protecting New Guinea’s forests is now even more critical, as they may harbor other species thought lost to time.

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Source: Discover Wildlife – Marsupials rediscovered in New Guinea

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