Not a Mogwai

Researchers from Texas A&M University have discovered strange-looking creatures once thought to be extinct.

Several Pygmy tarsiers (pictured), a primate species not seen in more than 80 years, were found in Indonesia in late summer. Weighing less than two ounces, the tiny and mysterious creatures bear a striking resemblance to the fictional animals in the movie Gremlins (the nice furry ones like Gizmo).

It took months for the researchers to trap two males and one female on the tricky-to-navigate, moist terrain of Mount Rore Katimbo in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The creatures were caught in nets and then fitted with special collars that track their movements.

The scientists are now busy collecting data and hope the Indonesian government will protect the species’ environment, which is at risk from encroaching development.