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Sometimes nature brings surprises that are almost miraculous. Scientists have confirmed that two small marsupials – the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider – are still alive in New Guinea, even though they were previously thought to have disappeared from the face of the earth more than 7,000 years ago.
After years of preparation, this discovery was announced on March 5, 2026 by Honolulu Bishop Museum. The museum said both species were previously known only from fossil evidence and had not been confirmed to exist for more than 7,000 years.
This confirmation was made possible through an unusual collaboration—one that brought together museum scientists, indigenous communities, and a private citizen scientist armed with a camera.
What is a “Lazarus species”?
The two marsupials are now classified as “Lazarus species,” a scientific term used to describe organisms that have reappeared after being thought to have become extinct. The word brings to mind stories of a character who rises from the dead, and in this case, the label is fitting: scientists have no conclusive evidence that either animal has existed for thousands of years.
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“The discovery of two Lazarus species thought to have been extinct for thousands of years is unprecedented,” Dr. Tim Flannery The Australian Museum said in a statement Press release.
Traces of both species began in the 1990s with fossils
The story of these two species goes back decades. These animals were first identified through fossils Dr. AS and Xapulin In the 1990s, teeth belonging to this species were unearthed during an archaeological dig in western New Guinea. At the time, the fossil record was all that existed—there were no known living examples of either creature, and both were presumed to have gone extinct thousands of years ago.
This classification continued for many years—until new evidence began to surface.
Dr. Christopher Helgen Bishop Museum staff identified one of the species after seeing a photo of a gliding ringtail possum in the wild. Helgen recognized the animal in the image as one of the species Aplin had previously classified as extinct. The photo helped lead to a wider investigation of the movement.
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Two years of research, multiple lines of evidence point to the existence of both species
Helgen and Flannery have conducted research over the past two years to confirm that both species are, in fact, still alive in New Guinea. Their work draws on several different forms of evidence.
A key piece of the puzzle comes from the University of Papua New Guinea, where researchers discovered two dwarf long-fingered oppossum specimens preserved in jars. These specimens provide physical evidence that the species lived later than the fossil record suggests.
Further confirmation of the survival of the dwarf long-fingered possum comes from an unexpected source: citizen scientists Carlos Bocoswho posted a photo of the animal on the biodiversity platform naturalist. The images were so significant that Bokos later became a co-author of a study documenting the species’ survival, demonstrating how the contributions of lay scientists can reshape scientific understanding.
message of hope
For the scientists involved, the discovery had an emotional impact beyond the lab.
“Being able to say that they are indeed alive brings me joy as a scientist and conservationist. It feels like a second chance to learn about and protect these extraordinary animals,” Helgen said in a statement. Press release.
Helgen also said the rediscovery shows “extinction is avoidable,” adding, “It’s a message of hope, one of second chances.”
