Scientists have confirmed the existence of the long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), a 200-million-year-old egg-laying mammal previously believed extinct. The confirmation, published in NPJ Biodiversity, combines camera trap images (110 photos from 26 events) with indigenous knowledge and earlier trace evidence. Last seen in the 1960s, this rediscovery in Indonesia's Cyclops Mountains highlights the importance of combining scientific methods with local knowledge in biodiversity research. The echidna is one of only five extant egg-laying mammals.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.