Rediscovered Species 2025

Rediscovery of the Malleco spiny-chest frog from the Araucania region of Chile which has not been seen since 1893 (last documented in 1902) found in 2023/2024.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1076327
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article301561059.html

Rediscovery of the Rio Santa Rosa mushroom-tongue salamander from the Ayacucho region of Peru which has not been seen/documented since 1982 rediscovered during a field survey in 2022.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article301399229.html
https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5594.3.7

Rediscovery of a lace bug species from Singapore which had not been seen/documented since 1917 found in September 2024 by nature enthusiasts.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...in-1917-rediscovered-at-spore-botanic-gardens
 
A rare frog that has not been seen in 130 years was recently rediscovered in Chile. The frog species, Alsodes vittatus, was first described in 1902 and has evaded detection since then, even though several search efforts were made.

A team of researchers came across two populations of the frog at the southeastern end of the ancient Hacienda San Ignacio de Pemehue in the La Araucanía Region. The rediscovery is important for the conservation of biodiversity in South America.

A Rare Frog That Hasn't Been Seen In 130 Years Was Rediscovered In Chile
 
A rare frog that has not been seen in 130 years was recently rediscovered in Chile. The frog species, Alsodes vittatus, was first described in 1902 and has evaded detection since then, even though several search efforts were made.

A team of researchers came across two populations of the frog at the southeastern end of the ancient Hacienda San Ignacio de Pemehue in the La Araucanía Region. The rediscovery is important for the conservation of biodiversity in South America.

A Rare Frog That Hasn't Been Seen In 130 Years Was Rediscovered In Chile

Uh, the post above already provided that information lol.
 
Cichlid species, previously ‘lost’ to science rediscovered in Lake Victoria!

Lipochromis microdon is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria. It hasn’t been formally recorded since 1985 and for decades, it was thought to be lost or possibly extinct as a victim of the dramatic ecological changes in Lake Victoria. Like many other haplochromine cichlids, and fish larvae eaters specifically, this species faced immense pressure from habitat degradation and the arrival of invasive species. However, in a surprising turn of events, recent sampling efforts have confirmed that Lipochromis microdon is still alive, offering a glimmer of hope for its conservation.

Cichlid species, previously 'lost' to science rediscovered in Lake Victoria! - Shoal

From UngulateNerd92 on the Positive Wildlife News 2025 Thread.
 
Rediscovery of the Lambert's Bay sandveld lizard from South Africa last seen in 2005 found by researchers in August 2023.

Surprise results in search for South African lizard species that have been missing for decades
Conscious Conservation - Endangered Wildlife Trust

Rediscovery of a leaf-toad gecko species from Rábida Island in the Galapagos Islands last seen in 2012 found by researchers in 2019/2021.

Tiny Gecko Rediscovered on Galápagos Island Where It Was Feared Extinct

Rediscovery of a skink species from Gunung Leuser National Park, North Sumatra, last seen in 1915 found by a researcher in April 2025.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article304256601.html
Rediscovery of the skink Sphenomorphus anomalopus (Boulenger, 1890) (Squamata: Scincidae): first documentation of its natural history and live coloration | Zootaxa

Rediscovery of a swamp eel species from Arunachal Pradesh, India, last seen in 1912 (last documented in 1913) found by researchers in 2022.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article306824401.html
Rediscovery and phylogenetic position of Moringua hodgarti Chaudhuri, 1913 (Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae) from the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, India | Zootaxa

Rediscovery of a jellyfish species last seen in 1976 found from photos taken back in September 2023 by a tourist off the coast of the island of South Uist, Scotland.

https://www.the-independent.com/new...llyfish-outer-hebrides-scotland-b2800166.html

Rediscovery of a tarantula species from Libmanan Caves National Park in the Philippines last seen/documented in 1892 found by researchers in 2025.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article308223915.html
https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/142334/

Rediscovery of the Gombak bent-winged firefly from Bukit Kiara forest, Malaysia, last seen in 1921 found by a research assistant in October 2024.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/life...s-new-questions-about-species-survival/179207

Rediscovery of a longhorn beetle species from Algeria last documented in 1900 found by researchers in 2025.

https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5632.3.7

Rediscovery of a mayfly species from Thailand last seen in 2006 found by researchers in December 2024 during a survey in the Mae Chaem River.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article303482861.html

Rediscovery of a velvet worm species from Arunachal Pradesh, India, last seen in 1911 found by researchers between 2021 and 2023.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00222933.2025.2483434
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/s...t-species-after-111-years/article69442309.ece

Rediscovery of a springtail species from Tamil Nadu, India last seen in 1933 found by researchers in Kerala.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/citie...scribed-from-the-nilgiris/article69674557.ece

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Also worth mentioning, 3 photographs of the now-extinct Nullabor barred bandicoot from the 1920s were found and uploaded online.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science...ed-bandicoot-photos-found-100-years/105504626
 
The Jerdon's courser has been re-rediscovered, after 20 years without a confirmed sighting (although unverified sightings continued until 2009). It is also the first time in 125 years that the bird has been recorded outside of a 3x4km patch in the Lankamalla Hills of Andhra Pradesh. The bird was identified by a call, recorded on the first night of searching - on 24th August 2025.

The species was thought to be extinct for much of the 20th century, and was rediscovered in 1986 before it went missing again in 2004.

An account of the expedition to find the bird can be read here.
 
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