Thrifty Banker
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Investing

Thrifty Banker

World

Hedgehog’s spines, anteater’s snout: A long-lost mammal is rediscovered in Indonesia

by November 10, 2023
November 10, 2023
Hedgehog’s spines, anteater’s snout: A long-lost mammal is rediscovered in Indonesia

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.

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, named after British naturalist David Attenborough, was photographed for the first time by a trail camera on the last day of a four-week expedition led by Oxford University scientists.

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.

“I shouted out to my colleagues that were still remaining… and said ‘we found it, we found it’ – I ran in from my desk to the living room and hugged the guys.”

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.

“The reason it appears so unlike other mammals is because it is a member of the monotremes – an egg-laying group that separated from the rest of the mammal tree-of-life about 200 million years ago,” Kempton said.

The species has only been scientifically recorded once before, by a Dutch botanist in 1961. A different echidna species is found throughout Australia and lowland New Guinea.

Kempton’s team survived an earthquake, malaria and even a leech attached to an eyeball during their trip. 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.

Both creatures were seen as so difficult to find that it would often take decades or a generation to locate them, but, once found, the animals symbolized the end of the conflict and a return to harmonious relationships.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
‘A death sentence’: British doctor flees Gaza but is sent back to war zone
next post
This megacity is the latest to shut down as pollution chokes swathes of South Asia

Related Posts

Zelensky sacks bodyguard chief after foiled assassination plot

May 10, 2024

Nose hairs, dead spiders and licking rocks are...

September 15, 2023

United Nations General Assembly votes to demand immediate...

December 13, 2023

Ocean Explorer: Luxury cruise ship freed after running...

September 15, 2023

Abandoned Apollo 17 lunar lander module is causing...

September 15, 2023

Hurricane Katrina Statistics Fast Facts

August 17, 2023

Thousands of sheep and cattle stranded at sea...

January 31, 2024

Letter from Tibet: A breathtaking journey through the...

May 1, 2025

More than 100 bodies found in Israeli kibbutz...

October 10, 2023

UN says total number of deaths in Gaza...

May 14, 2024

    Become a VIP member by signing up for our newsletter. Enjoy exclusive content, early access to sales, and special offers just for you! As a VIP, you'll receive personalized updates, loyalty rewards, and invitations to private events. Elevate your experience and join our exclusive community today!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Popular

    • 1

      ‘This is a life-changing event’: Floridians start an arduous recovery as Idalia keeps thrashing North Carolina

      September 1, 2023
    • 2

      Letter from the CEO: Unlocking the True Value of Electric Royalties Ltd

      March 26, 2025
    • 3

      A GOP operative accused a monastery of voter fraud. Nuns fought back.

      January 3, 2025
    • 4

      Waymo offers teen accounts for driverless rides

      July 9, 2025
    • 5

      Strong Leach Recoveries and Low Impurities

      July 9, 2025
    • 6

      Tesla asks shareholders to vote again on Musk’s $56 billion payout

      April 18, 2024
    • 7

      Eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano sends ash 11 miles high

      July 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (1,094)
    • Investing (2,148)
    • Politics (2,979)
    • Uncategorized (20)
    • World (3,421)
    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: thriftybanker.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 thriftybanker.com | All Rights Reserved