Very exiting news! The Attenborough long-beaked echidna was cached on camera for the first time.
First ever images prove 'lost echidna' not extinct
First ever images prove 'lost echidna' not extinct
First ever images prove Attenborough long-beaked echidna was not extinct
- Thread starter twilighter
- Start date
Here's their site: Echidna — Expedition Cyclops
They also got the first ever video footage and first sighting of Mayr's Honeyeater since 2007, so really an absolutely amazing expedition.
They also got the first ever video footage and first sighting of Mayr's Honeyeater since 2007, so really an absolutely amazing expedition.
Green_mamba
Well-Known Member
Very cool stuff!
Just after my ‘anthology of the last 20 years’ as well…
If I ever do a similar thing 20 years later… this will definitely be the ‘star event’ of ‘23! =]]]
If I ever do a similar thing 20 years later… this will definitely be the ‘star event’ of ‘23! =]]]
The real crazy news here is the discovery of a genus of terrestrial amphipods during the same expedition!
Green_mamba
Well-Known Member
It is fascinating knowing that there are still undiscovered species out there.
I mean not to say this discovery isn't amazing or anything, but this seems like it'd make sense? I mean given the Mountains they were exploring are very under-sampled and the like, and as terrestrial amphipods/'land-hoppers', aren't all too uncommon I don't really see how it 'shadows' the rediscovery of the echidna.
Of course, expedition to Cyclops mountains is wonderful, because wildlife in New Guinea is still extremely poorly known and isolated mountain ranges can hold even unknown species. However, nobody seriously thought that the Attenborough echidna went extinct. It was simply not observed by any scientist.
I believe there was some concern regarding the species until 2007 - as nobody from then to then had found any evidence of the species' prolonged existence. From 2007, however, some evidences like burrows etc would be found - and so gave scientists hope.
So in some sense the fact that Attenborough's echidna was still alive was not so much surprise as it was happy circumstance. And maybe for other species often thought extinct it could serve as a figure of hope!
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
I thought that the cyclops mountains were in Indonesia?
The island of New Guinea is divided between two countries - Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. So the Cyclops Mountains are in Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
Cheers for that I didn't mean to sound like a cleverclogsThe island of New Guinea is divided between two countries - Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. So the Cyclops Mountains are in Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea.
Look at the echidna photo on this page: Science & Environment | Latest News & Updates | BBC News
Just links to the BBC front page, but I assume it's one of the many articles that have slapped a photo of Tachyglossus instead as the thumber and called it a day?
Coral and seastars
Active Member
Indeed, I believe the only online viewing of the elusive monotreme is the video showing a few walking around the camera.
Also, if it’s in indonesia, i wonder if the bombing of native tribes might affect the survival of the echidna? Indonesia does not have a good track record nonetheless with the natives.
And that adds another species found in november (Found in july but info got out in november) The other was the percumabo *Dont remember the exact name* holly tree in the atlantic forest!