Exciting News! Scientists Have Discovered Two New Marsupial Species In Australia

"And just like that, the world became a lot better." Australian scientists have discovered two new mammal species, relatives of the greater glider. This year has been challenging globally, and particularly for Australia, which suffered massive bushfires resulting in the death or displacement of approximately 3 billion animals in one of the largest wildlife disasters in modern history. Thus, it was high time for some positive news, and it arrived courtesy of Australian scientists who identified two new species related to the greater glider.

As one animal lover wrote:

“And just like that, the world became a lot better.”

The glider, known for its distinctive features such as expressive eyes, large ears, and a long furry tail, was previously thought to be a single species. However, recent research published in Scientific Reports has revealed that there are actually three distinct species inhabiting northern and central Australia, extending well beyond the southern regions where the glider was originally believed to reside.

Professor Andrew Krockenberger from James Cook University has announced a significant enrichment in the country's biodiversity, noting that "it's not every day that new mammals are confirmed, especially two new mammals."

While experts had suspected the existence of multiple species, the diversity was previously attributed to subspecies rather than entirely distinct species.

However, DNA sequencing of tissue samples from various gliders in Queensland, Victoria, and museum specimens has verified differences in their DNA.

The greater glider species now encompasses three separate species: Petauroides minor, Petauroides armillatus, and the previously recognized Petauroides volans.

Collaborative research by Australian National University, University of Canberra, CSIRO, and James Cook University led to this discovery, with researcher Denise McGregor contributing to the study.

“There has been speculation for a while that there were more than one species of the greater glider but now we have proof from the DNA. It changes the whole way we think about them.”

During the day, the southern glider searches for sleeping spots in hollow trees within the woodlands stretching along the Great Dividing Range, between New South Wales and Victoria.

Like koalas, it feeds on eucalyptus leaves and can soar up to 330 feet at night in pursuit of food.

Once common, the glider, comparable in size to a possum, has seen its numbers dwindle due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

The situation is exacerbated by logging, drought, bushfires, and global warming, as noted by Victoria's environmental agency. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List classifies these animals as vulnerable, especially due to their reliance on mature trees.

Conservationists now face a greater challenge: protecting three distinct species instead of one. The newly discovered northern species inhabits the eucalyptus forests between Mackay and Cairns in Queensland.

This smallest glider measures about a foot in length, akin to the little ringtail possum, and is roughly half the size of the southern glider.

The central species occupies an area from southern Queensland to Mackay and is intermediate in size compared to the other two.

Australian National University ecologist Kara Youngentob states:

“It’s really exciting to find this biodiversity under our noses. The division of the greater glider into multiple species reduces the previous widespread distribution of the original species, further increasing conservation concern for that animal and highlighting the lack of information about the other greater glider species.”

two new greater glider species have been discovered in australia!

it was previously assumed they were of one species, but apparently greater gliders comprise of three separate species. they’re one of the world’s biggest gliding mammals.

Moreover, the discovery highlighted the remarkable diversity of Australian wildlife, with 87 percent being unique to the island continent. 

Iconic examples include the distinctive southern corroboree frog, mountain pygmy-possum, kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats, potoroos, bandicoots, echidnas, among others.

Regrettably, Australia records the highest rate of species extinction globally. However, scientists remain hopeful that this trend can be reversed through more precise taxonomic classification.

The study noted:

“A lack of knowledge about the genetic structure of species across their range can result in an inability to properly manage and protect species from extinction. This is especially true in the wake of a natural disaster, when wildlife management decisions need to be made quickly and under challenging circumstances.”