Once considered extinct, the silver-backed cibolothein forces scientists to discover just how much biodiversity still exists behind our eyes.

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Silver-backed Shiborotein (tragglus versicolor) was first formally described in 1910 and was based on only four living specimens. Since then, there has been only one verifiable sighting of the animal alive, in 1990. Everything else we knew about this small deer-like mammal was based on data from 20 hunted or dead specimens collected in southern Vietnam between 1978 and 1993.

No formal investigation or search operations were conducted during this time. No photos. There is no physical evidence. Therefore, after 1993, the silver-backed cibolotain was considered most likely extinct. That is, until 2019, when you walk past a camera trap.

This rediscovery was not dramatic. There were no expeditions racing against time, no last-minute rescues. The specimen was captured in thousands of motion-triggered images collected during a biodiversity survey. In other words, it never really disappeared in the first place. It simply went unnoticed.

Why was the silver-backed chebrotein thought to be extinct?

The Chebrotein, also known as the Mouse Deer, is one of the smallest ungulate mammals on Earth. However, despite their resemblance to deer, they are not closely related at all. instead they belong to the family Trifoliaceaea lineage that diverged early in the evolution of artiodactyls. They have no horns, retain primitive skeletal features, and use enlarged canines (especially in males) for defense rather than head-on fighting.

As of 2004 study from Russian Journal of Epidemiology As described by , the silver-backed cibolotheine is unique among this unusual group. Based on a specimen obtained from a local Vietnamese hunter in 1990, the authors note that it has darker, more contrasting fur than other Southeast Asian species. Its unique silver-gray dorsal patch gives it its name.

The silver-backed cibolotain inhabits the lowland forests of southern Vietnam. Notably, these ecosystems have experienced large-scale deforestation, agricultural conversion, and hunting pressure over the past century.

However, unlike large mammals, ciborateine ​​leaves no obvious signs of its presence. They are nocturnal, very solitary, very alert and rarely sing. In addition to this, they freeze instead of running away when threatened. This is a strategy that works well against predators, but not at all against habitat loss or wire traps.

Importantly, very little research has been conducted on this species since the early 20th century. This means that its presumed extinction was based on lack of evidence rather than evidence of absence. In conservation biology, that distinction is important.

Why didn’t anyone notice that Silverback Chebrotein was still alive?

The reason for the rediscovery was study Published in natural ecology and evolution In 2019, it was led by researchers working with the World Wildlife Organization and partners in Vietnam.

Rather than specifically looking for chevrotains, the researchers set up more than 30 camera traps at multiple forest sites to assess mammal diversity. These camera traps are motion- and heat-sensitive devices that operate continuously, often for months, capturing images without the need for human presence. It was left abandoned from April to July 2018.

Among the tens of thousands of photos taken, there were several clear images. tragglus versicolorthey were sufficiently different to exclude misidentification with other kebrotine species.

Most notably, it wasn’t a random image. This species has repeatedly appeared in several locations, both individually and in populations, suggesting that the silver-backed kebrotein still exists, albeit in small numbers, in Vietnam. Somehow they survived decades of environmental pressure, invisible but not extinct.

From a biological perspective, this points to a problem of detection rather than miraculous survival.

What the silver-backed Cheblotein can tell us about the extinction declaration

Small and enigmatic mammals are systematically underrepresented in conservation assessments. Larger species receive more attention because they are easier to detect and are often culturally important, whereas smaller species require intensive, long-term monitoring. This is something that many areas simply lack funding for.

Particularly in Vietnam, conservation resources have historically focused primarily on primates, elephants, and large carnivores. As a result, the species was essentially “lost” to the entire scientific community because the root causes of its rarity, poaching and habitat loss, were never addressed.

To declare a species extinct, there must be strong evidence that the last individual has died. In practice, this means that many “extinct” species can (and often do) persist at low densities without our knowledge, especially in remote and poorly studied habitats. These are also sometimes referred to as “.”lazarus seed” – A creature that reappears after being thought to have disappeared. The silver-backed cibolotheine joins this group, along with species like the green sea turtle. coelacanth and the rock rat of Laos.

The quiet resurgence of the silver-backed Chevrolet tines is more than just a feel-good story of resilience. This is a reminder that our understanding of the natural world remains incomplete. Even in the 21st century, with satellites and genetic tools, very fundamental questions remain unanswered. What species still exist? How many people have disappeared with no records left? And how many survive just above the detection threshold?

For biologists, the lesson here is clear. Lack of data is not lack of data.

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