The pygmy long-fingered opossum and the ring-tailed glider went extinct in the Pleistocene, 6,000 years ago--except they have just been found alive in New Guinea.

Summary: https://www.sci.news/biology/two-marsupials-new-guinea-14648.html

Original paper: https://journals.australian.museum/flannery-2026-rec-aust-mus-781-1734/

#Science #Biology #Wildlife #Extinction #NewGuinea

Sicilianews24.it: Due marsupiali ritenuti estinti da 6.000 anni ritrovati vivi in Papua Indoesiana.

Scoperta di marsupiali ritenuti estinti da 6.000 anni
Due specie di marsupiali che si pensava fossero estinte da oltre 6.000 anni sono state ritrovate vive sull’isola di Nuova Guinea. Questi due “Lazarus” sono stati recentemente identificati nelle foreste pluviali della Penisola del Bird’s Head, che si trova nella parte indonesiana dell’isola, mentre la parte orientale appartiene a Papua Nuova Guinea.
Fino a poco fa, gli scienziati conoscevano solo il marsupiale a lungo dito pigmeo (Dactylonax kambuayai) e il volatore dalla coda ad anello (Tous ayamaruensis) attraverso reperti fossili. La scoperta di queste specie mai osservate prima ha aperto nuove prospettive per la ricerca sulla biodiversità delle foreste pluviali di New Guinea.

L'articolo Due marsupiali ritenuti estinti da 6.000 anni ritrovati vivi in Papua Indoesiana. sembra essere il primo su Sicilianews24.it.

Two marsupials considered extinct for 6,000 years found alive in Papua Indonesia.

The discovery of marsupials considered extinct for 6,000 years
Two species of marsupials thought to be extinct for over 6,000 years have been found alive on the island of New Guinea. These two “Lazaruses” were recently identified in the rainforests of the Bird’s Head Peninsula, which is located in the Indonesian part of the island, while the eastern part belongs to Papua New Guinea.
Until recently, scientists only knew about the long-fingered pygmy marsupial (Dactylonax kambuayai) and the ring-tailed glider (Tous ayamaruensis) through fossil remains. The discovery of these previously unobserved species has opened new perspectives for research on the biodiversity of the New Guinea rainforests.

The article “Two marsupials considered extinct for 6,000 years found alive in Indonesian Papua” appears to be the first on Sicilianews24.it.

#PapuaIndonesia #NewGuinea #Lazaruses #Indonesian #PapuaNewGuinea #Dactylonax #Papua #first

https://www.sicilianews24.it/due-marsupiali-ritenuti-estinti-da-6-000-anni-ritrovati-vivi-in-papua-indoesiana-823238.html

Birds of New Guinea by Thane K. Pratt, Bruce M. Beehler, 2014

This is the completely revised edition of the essential field guide to the birds of New Guinea. The world's largest tropical island, New Guinea boasts a spectacular avifauna characterized by cassowaries, megapodes, pigeons, parrots, cuckoos, kingfishers, and owlet-nightjars, as well as an exceptionally diverse assemblage of songbirds such as the iconic birds of paradise and bowerbirds.

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#NewGuinea
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