cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/9066564

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/9066278

Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded.

  • GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    The species has only been scientifically recorded once before, by a Dutch botanist in 1961.

    Wonder if anyone believed them at the time (especially after years of not finding one).

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded.

    Having descended from the mountains at the end of the trip, biologist James Kempton found the images of the small creature walking through the forest undergrowth on the last memory card retrieved from more than 80 remote cameras.

    “There was a great sense of euphoria, and also relief having spent so long in the field with no reward until the very final day,” he said, describing the moment he first saw the footage with collaborators from Indonesian conservation group YAPPENDA.

    Echidnas share their name with a half-woman, half-serpent Greek mythological creature, and were described by the team as shy, nocturnal burrow-dwellers who are notoriously difficult to find.

    They worked with the local village Yongsu Sapari to navigate and explore the remote terrain of northeastern Papua.

    The echidna is embedded in the local culture, including a tradition that states conflicts are resolved by sending one party to a disagreement into the forest to search for the mammal and another to the ocean to find a marlin, according to Yongsu Sapari elders cited by the university.


    The original article contains 396 words, the summary contains 214 words. Saved 46%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • XbSuper@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Spines of a hedgehog, snout of an anteater, and feet of a mole. Is this thing trying to out-ugly the platypus?

    On a more serious note, they’re both egg laying mammals, is it possible they’re related?

  • VO0RHAMER@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I coincidentally saw the only stuffed specimen of this species last weekend and I didn’t even realise it was special, because it was just standing between the other animals without a sign saying it was thought extinct or anything.