Biologists have recently pulled off a remarkable feat: they’ve confirmed that a rare, egg-laying mammal thought to have disappeared ages ago is still alive in the wilds of Indonesia.
This animal, called Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), is a prickly, beaked creature whose ancestors go back an astonishing 200 million years—making it a true living fossil.
The Long Search for a Mysterious Mammal
The last time anyone had concrete proof of this echidna’s existence was over 60 years ago, when a single specimen was found in the mountains of Papua, Indonesia.
Since then, the animal became almost mythical—rumored to exist by locals, but never seen by scientists. For years, researchers found only hints: mysterious “nose pokes” in the soil (evidence of the echidna’s foraging), and stories from Indigenous communities who claimed to have spotted the animal.
High-Tech Sleuthing in the Cyclops Mountains
In 2023, a team from Oxford University set out to solve the mystery once and for all. They traveled to the Cyclops Mountains, a dense and rugged rainforest in Indonesia that’s as wild as its name suggests.
The team used a combination of modern technology and local knowledge: they set up camera traps—motion-activated cameras hidden in the forest—and worked closely with Indigenous groups who knew the land best.
After months of waiting and sifting through thousands of images, the researchers struck gold. On the very last memory card from the last camera, they found clear photos of the long-beaked echidna, alive and well. In total, the cameras captured 110 photos across 26 separate encounters, providing irrefutable evidence that the species still survives.
Why Is This Animal So Special?
Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is one of only a handful of mammals that lay eggs. Its closest living relatives are the platypus and three other echidna species. These animals, known as monotremes, split off from the rest of the mammal family tree long before dinosaurs disappeared.
They’re like time travelers, offering a glimpse into what life was like hundreds of millions of years ago.
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A Species Hanging by a Thread
Today, the Cyclops Mountains are the only place where Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is known to exist. The species is officially listed as critically endangered, and its habitat is under threat from deforestation, hunting, and development.
The rediscovery is a rare bright spot for conservationists, who hope it will spark new efforts to protect both the echidna and its rainforest home.
Hope for Other “Lost” Species
According to scientists, there are more than 2,000 so-called “lost species”—animals and plants that haven’t been seen for decades and are feared extinct.
The rediscovery of the long-beaked echidna is a reminder that nature still holds surprises, especially in places that haven’t been thoroughly explored. As one researcher put it, “Rediscoveries offer hope that others survive, especially in places where biological research has been limited.”
The Adventure Continues
The story of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is a quirky blend of science, mystery, and perseverance. It shows that with a little luck, a lot of patience, and the help of local communities, even the rarest creatures can be found again. For now, the world can celebrate the return of this spiky, egg-laying oddball—and keep searching for other hidden wonders.
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Rediscovering Madagascar’s Giant Millipede: A Century-Old Mystery Solved
The Lost Giant Millipede Returns
After more than 120 years out of sight, the giant millipede Spirostreptus sculptus has been rediscovered in Madagascar’s vast Makira Forest. First described by Swiss scientists Henri de Saussure and Leo Zehntner in 1897, this large, dark-brown millipede had baffled scientists by disappearing from records for over a century—until a 2023 expedition finally found it thriving in its remote rainforest home.
The Expedition That Changed Everything
The rediscovery happened during a groundbreaking multi-specialist expedition organized by the “Search for Lost Species” project, which aims to find animals and plants not seen for at least ten years but not officially declared extinct.
The team included entomologists, ornithologists, herpetologists, and other experts, working together for the first time on such a large scale in Makira, one of Madagascar’s largest protected rainforests.
The team trekked for days through difficult terrain to reach old-growth forest areas where S. sculptus lives. Surprisingly, once in the right habitat, the millipedes appeared readily—sometimes even coming to the researchers’ base camp.
The largest female millipede measured a remarkable 27.5 centimeters (10.8 inches), making it a truly giant member of its kind.
Why the Millipede Went Missing
The millipede’s disappearance from scientific records wasn’t because it vanished from the wild; rather, it had been hiding in a remote, difficult-to-access part of the island. The Makira Forest’s dense canopy and rugged landscape have kept many species out of reach of researchers, and local communities were likely aware of the millipede all along.
More Than Just a Millipede
The expedition didn’t just rediscover the giant millipede. Alongside it, the team documented 20 other “lost” species, including iridescent fish, beetles, spiders, and even several jumping spider species previously unknown to science. This highlights how much biodiversity remains hidden in Madagascar’s forests, underscoring the importance of continued exploration.
The Importance of Makira Forest
Makira is one of Madagascar’s largest and best-preserved rainforests, yet it remains underexplored. Scientists emphasize that many species here are still unknown or poorly understood, and the forest’s protection is critical as it faces threats from deforestation and habitat degradation.
The rediscovery of Spirostreptus sculptus and other species offers hope that conservation efforts can succeed if we act in time.
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A Model for Future Searches
This expedition marks a shift in how lost species searches are conducted, moving from single-species hunts to broad, multi-taxa surveys involving diverse teams of specialists and local guides. This approach maximizes the chances of finding hidden species and gives a fuller picture of biodiversity in remote areas.
Why Rediscoveries Matter
Rediscovering species thought lost for decades or centuries is more than just a scientific curiosity. It reminds us that nature still holds many secrets and that some species can survive despite human impacts and limited scientific attention. Each rediscovery fuels hope and urgency for protecting these fragile ecosystems before it’s too late.
