The bandicoot with a butterfly on its back

19/07/2025 10 min
The bandicoot with a butterfly on its back

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Episode Synopsis


The Nullarbor barred bandicoot (Perameles papillon) was identified as a new species in 2018, despite being extinct for nearly a century. Until recently, all scientists had of the bandicoots were a handful of museum specimens and one black and white glass slide. Now two photographs of the species have been discovered at the University of Melbourne, revealing details about how the animals looked when they were alive.