Biologists have recently confirmed the existence of a 200-million-year-old species of egg-laying mammal that was previously believed to be extinct. The long-beaked echidna, named after David Attenborough, was last documented in the 1960s.

Suspected footage of the long-beaked echidna was captured in 2023 during an expedition to the Cyclops Mountains in Indonesia by Oxford University. By combining modern technology with indigenous knowledge, researchers verified the presence of this ancient species. This discovery was detailed in a recent paper published in the journal NPJ Biodiversity.

Although the long-beaked echidna had not been seen for over 60 years, evidence of its existence was found in the Cyclops Mountains region in recent decades. Researchers discovered 'nose pokes,' signs that echidnas leave behind when foraging underground for invertebrates, in 2007. Additionally, indigenous groups reported sightings of the species in the past two decades.

Camera trapping was instrumental in confirming the existence of the long-beaked echidna. Camera traps deployed in the Cyclops Mountains in 2022 and 2023 captured 110 photos from 26 individual events, providing the necessary evidence for researchers to pursue this lost species further.

The long-beaked echidna is one of only five egg-laying mammals in existence today, along with the platypus and two other species of modern echidna. These mammals represent the only living members of the monotreme lineage, which diverged from marsupials and placental mammals over 200 million years ago.

While the long-beaked echidna was once found in the Oenaka Range of Papua New Guinea, the Cyclops Mountains are the only known location where this species has been observed in recent times. The researchers highlighted the importance of rediscoveries in offering hope for the survival of other 'lost species,' especially in areas where biological research has been limited.