Developing a cross-cultural approach for the description and conservation of an undescribed mammal species from the Kimberley region of Western Australia

A living mammal species unknown to science has recently been recorded on Dambimangari Country in the Kimberley region, Western Australia. My project aims to confirm that the mammal is a new species, and if it is, describe and name it using an innovative method that draws on scientific principles and Indigenous cultural values. Dambimangari Traditional Owners do not want an animal killed and taken off Country as a type specimen, the conventional taxonomic requirement for describing and naming new species. Thus, in this year of the project we aim to obtain skull material from owl pellets for the type specimen, an approach used to describe extinct Australian mammals but not living species. This will be combined with genetic samples, photos and body measurements of captured (and released) individuals during field surveys.

Learning about a potentially new mammal species carries a strong conservation imperative because Australian mammals have suffered extremely high rates of extinction and decline, especially the taxonomic group to which this species belongs. Hence, an important additional aim of my project is learning more about the species' ecology, distribution and threats, so that conservation management actions can be developed. In this year of the project we will conduct fieldwork to increase our understanding of the population size through capture-recapture rates and distribution of the species using camera traps.

It is rare to find a living mammal species completely unknown to science. To describe and name the species collaboratively with Traditional Owners using a method which promotes inclusion of Indigenous cultural values is an exciting opportunity to respectfully progress taxonomy. Additionally, understanding the conservation biology of the species to develop co-management strategies alongside Traditional Owners, means the species can be adequately assessed for its conservation status when described, and that immediate management of the species threats can occur.