11 Nov 2012

Elusive species of possum rediscovered in Australia

10:20 am on 11 November 2012

A species of possum that had not been seen in almost a century has been rediscovered in Western Australia.

The scaly-tailed possum Wyulda squamicaudata had last been spotted in the Kimberley region in 1917.

Now, the animal has been filmed by scientists from Monash University who were researching cane toads

The researchers also managed to trap and take DNA samples from the possum.

They say it seems to have remained hidden for so long because it is nocturnal and lives in steep escarpments criss-crossed by gorges.

The team published its findings in the scientific journal Australian Mammalogy.