Egg‑laying mammal rediscovered after decades in Indonesia
1:41 PM EST, November 10, 2023
There's been a sensational discovery in the mountains of Indonesia. Scientists have filmed an egg-laying mammal whose history traces back to the era of dinosaurs. This material refutes the previous scientific belief that this animal had gone extinct.
The "Expedition Cyclops" research team from Oxford University, took an expedition to Indonesia last summer. They set up field cameras in the Cyclops mountains in the Papua province, conducting studies in the harsh terrain at an altitude of 6562 ft above sea level.
Sensational discovery made in Indonesia
The scientists were hoping for an interesting discovery, but they weren't expecting such a sensation. The cameras picked up the activity of an exceptional mammal, long presumed extinct.
The creature in question is a mountain echidna, officially termed Zaglossus attenboroughi, named in honor of renowned British biologist Sir David Attenborough.
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So far, the only evidence of this species' existence were remnants found in the Cyclops Mountains, discovered over 60 years ago by a Danish botanist. This current discovery has sparked great excitement amongst the scientists.
"Our entire team was in euphoria. I am not exaggerating when I say that we spotted her on the last SD card we were scanning, from the final camera we collected, on the last day of our expedition," a elated Dr. James Kempton said in an interview with BBC News.
It's no surprise that the scientists are jubilant, as the mountain echidna is a truly extraordinary creature. The species, often termed "living fossils", is believed to have emerged on Earth about 200 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs.
While the mountain echidna is indeed a mammal, it reproduces in a unique way— it lays eggs, somewhat similar to a hedgehog in appearance. It's the scientists' hope that they can now discover more about this rare and remarkable creature.
