Overview
Brief Summary
Biology
Long-beaked echidnas are largely nocturnal and solitary (4). Echindas are sometimes known as spiny anteaters, although the long-beaked echidna feeds mainly on earthworms (3). The tongue has a series of spikes at the front, which are used to 'hook' and reel-in worms and other prey items (4). During the day, individuals seek refuge in burrows, hollow logs and cavities in the ground (4). The long-beaked echidna usually lays one egg into its pouch, which hatches after ten days (4); the infant then remains in the pouch until the spines develop (2). There are no teats; instead milk is lapped from 'milk patches' inside the pouch (2). When threatened, echidnas can erect their spines, and when on soft ground they can burrow down into the substrate so that the spine-free underside is protected. If on a hard surface they roll up into a ball, in a similar way to hedgehogs (2).
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Biology
Long-beaked echidnas are largely nocturnal and solitary (4). Echindas are sometimes known as spiny anteaters, although the long-beaked echidna feeds mainly on earthworms (3). The tongue has a series of spikes at the front, which are used to 'hook' and reel-in worms and other prey items (4). During the day, individuals seek refuge in burrows, hollow logs and cavities in the ground (4). The long-beaked echidna usually lays one egg into its pouch, which hatches after ten days (4); the infant then remains in the pouch until the spines develop (2). There are no teats; instead milk is lapped from 'milk patches' inside the pouch (2). When threatened, echidnas can erect their spines, and when on soft ground they can burrow down into the substrate so that the spine-free underside is protected. If on a hard surface they roll up into a ball, in a similar way to hedgehogs (2).
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Comprehensive Description
Description
Long-beaked echidnas are egg-laying mammals, known as monotremes, a group that also includes the duck-billed platypus and the short-beaked echidna (4). The taxonomy of long-beaked echidnas has been contentious but currently three species are recognised: Zaglossus bruijnii, Z. bartoni (composed of 4 distinct subspecies) and Z. attenboroughi (6). Until recently only one species was acknowledged (Z. bruijnii) and as only small morphological differences distinguish this species from Z. bartoni it is difficult to tell individuals apart. In general, Zaglossus spp. have long, downward curving narrow snouts (2). The small mouth and large nostrils are located at the end of the snout and the tongue is long and agile (2). The limbs are powerful, with strong claws that are important in digging for food (5). Males can be distinguished from females by their larger size and the possession of a horny spur on the ankles of the hind limbs (2). The species within this genus range in size from the largest living monotremes at almost a metre long, to the small Zaglossus attenboroughi (6). There is a wide variety of colour and density of fur even within each species, ranging from black individuals in which the spines are barely noticeable, to sparsely haired paler echidnas (6). In general, Z. bruijnii is distinguished by the possession of three claws on the fore and hindfeet, whereas there are five on the forefeet of Z. bartoni and Z. attenboroughi (6). Z. attenboroughi is much smaller than the other species, possessing a shorter beak and shorter fur (6).
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Description
Long-beaked echidnas are egg-laying mammals, known as monotremes, a group that also includes the duck-billed platypus and the short-beaked echidna (4). The taxonomy of long-beaked echidnas has been contentious but currently three species are recognised: Zaglossus bruijnii, Z. bartoni (composed of 4 distinct subspecies) and Z. attenboroughi (6). Until recently only one species was acknowledged (Z. bruijnii) and as only small morphological differences distinguish this species from Z. bartoni it is difficult to tell individuals apart. In general, Zaglossus spp. have long, downward curving narrow snouts (2). The small mouth and large nostrils are located at the end of the snout and the tongue is long and agile (2). The limbs are powerful, with strong claws that are important in digging for food (5). Males can be distinguished from females by their larger size and the possession of a horny spur on the ankles of the hind limbs (2). The species within this genus range in size from the largest living monotremes at almost a metre long, to the small Zaglossus attenboroughi (6). There is a wide variety of colour and density of fur even within each species, ranging from black individuals in which the spines are barely noticeable, to sparsely haired paler echidnas (6). In general, Z. bruijnii is distinguished by the possession of three claws on the fore and hindfeet, whereas there are five on the forefeet of Z. bartoni and Z. attenboroughi (6). Z. attenboroughi is much smaller than the other species, possessing a shorter beak and shorter fur (6).
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Distribution
Range
Found only in mountainous regions of the island of New Guinea, in both Papua New Guinea in the west and Irian Jaya on the Indonesian side (2). The three species have distinct ranges; Z. bruijnii is found in the far west of New Guinea, Z. attenboroughi is known from a single mountain peak in the Cyclops Mountains, and Z. bartoni is principally found in a swathe along the centre of the island, where each of the 4 subspecies have separate ranges (6).
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Range
Found only in mountainous regions of the island of New Guinea, in both Papua New Guinea in the west and Irian Jaya on the Indonesian side (2). The three species have distinct ranges; Z. bruijnii is found in the far west of New Guinea, Z. attenboroughi is known from a single mountain peak in the Cyclops Mountains, and Z. bartoni is principally found in a swathe along the centre of the island, where each of the 4 subspecies have separate ranges (6).
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat
Found in a great variety of altitudes, long-beaked echidnas have been recorded in both rainforest and alpine meadows (4).
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Habitat
Found in a great variety of altitudes, long-beaked echidnas have been recorded in both rainforest and alpine meadows (4).
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Barcode
Statistics of barcoding coverage
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
| Specimen Records: | 2 |
| Specimens with Sequences: | 2 |
| Specimens with Barcodes: | 2 |
| Public Records: | 2 |
| Species: | 1 |
| Species With Barcodes: | 1 |
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Barcode data
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Conservation
Conservation Status
Status
Classified as Endangered (EN-A1ac) by the IUCN Red List 2002 (1), and listed under Appendix II of CITES (7).
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Status
Classified as Endangered (EN-A1ac) by the IUCN Red List 2002 (1), and listed under Appendix II of CITES (7).
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Threats
Threats
The decline of these echidnas is probably due mainly to hunting, which continues today with trained dogs (3). Other threats include habitat loss through logging, farming and mining (3). It may be that Z. attenboroughi is already extinct as the only known specimen was collected in 1961 and the species is presumed to be restricted to a single mountain summit with only 50km² of habitat (6).
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Threats
The decline of these echidnas is probably due mainly to hunting, which continues today with trained dogs (3). Other threats include habitat loss through logging, farming and mining (3). It may be that Z. attenboroughi is already extinct as the only known specimen was collected in 1961 and the species is presumed to be restricted to a single mountain summit with only 50km² of habitat (6).
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Management
Conservation
This echidna is fully protected in Irian Jaya; it is protected in Papua New Guinea but not from the traditional forms of hunting which continue there (3). The Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist Group of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) has recommended that priorities for the conservation of this species should include a public education programme, protection of all known populations and the initiation of research into captive breeding programmes (3). At present, captive individuals are only kept at Taronga Zoo, Sydney and a breeding programme is being attempted (6). The recent reclassification of the genus is particularly important for conservation efforts (6). The fossil evidence suggests that monotremes have changed very little during the last 100 million years (2), and urgent action is needed to protect this ancient and intriguing mammal from extinction.
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Conservation
This echidna is fully protected in Irian Jaya; it is protected in Papua New Guinea but not from the traditional forms of hunting which continue there (3). The Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist Group of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) has recommended that priorities for the conservation of this species should include a public education programme, protection of all known populations and the initiation of research into captive breeding programmes (3). At present, captive individuals are only kept at Taronga Zoo, Sydney and a breeding programme is being attempted (6). The recent reclassification of the genus is particularly important for conservation efforts (6). The fossil evidence suggests that monotremes have changed very little during the last 100 million years (2), and urgent action is needed to protect this ancient and intriguing mammal from extinction.
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Wikipedia
Long-beaked echidna
The long-beaked echidnas make up one of the two genera (genus Zaglossus) of echidnas, spiny monotremes that lives in New Guinea. There are three living species and two extinct species in this genus. Echidnas are one of the two types of mammals that lay eggs. The other animal is a platypus.
Contents |
Species
Zaglossus attenboroughi
Main article: Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna
- Habitat: regions of New Guinea at higher elevation than highland forests
- Era: the present
- Endangered
Zaglossus bartoni
Main article: Eastern Long-beaked Echidna
- Habitat: on the central cordillera between the Paniai Lakes and the Nanneau Range, as well as the Huon Peninsula
- Era: the present
- Endangered
Zaglossus bruijni
Main article: Western Long-beaked Echidna
- Habitat: highland forests of New Guinea
- Era: the present
- Endangered
†Zaglossus hacketti
Main article: Zaglossus hacketti
- Habitat: Western Australia
- Era: Upper Pleistocene
- Fossil
- This species is known only from a few bones. At a metre long, it was huge for an echidna and for monotremes in general.
†Zaglossus robustus
Main article: Zaglossus robustus
- Habitat: Tasmania
- Era: Pleistocene
- Fossil
- This species is known from a fossil skull about 65 cm long.
- It had many spikes along its back to protect it from its predators and used them as a weapon.
General Information
The long-beaked echidna is larger than the short-beaked and has fewer, shorter spines scattered among its coarse hairs. The snout is two-thirds of the head length and curves slightly downward. There are five digits on both hind and forefeet, but on the former, only the three middle toes are equipped with claws. Males have a spur on each of the hind legs. This echidna is primarily a nocturnal animal that forages for its insect food on the forest floor. The breeding female has a temporary abdominal brood patch, in which her egg is incubated and in which the newborn young remains in safety, feeding and developing. Little is known about the life of this rarely seen animal, but it is believed to have similar habits to those of the short-beaked echidna. There were once thought to be 3 species in this genus, but now all are believed to be races of this one species. The population of echidnas in New Guinea is declining because of forest clearing and overhunting, and the animal is much in need of protection.
References
- ^ Groves, Colin P. (16 November 2005). "Order Monotremata (pp. 1-2)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 1-2. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=10300010.
- Flannery, T.F. and Groves, C.P. 1998. A revision of the genus Zaglossus (Monotremata, Tachyglossidae), with description of new species and subspecies. Mammalia, 62(3): 367–396
See also
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