Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters & Doria, 1876)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Tachyglossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 34-56 : 55

1 .

Western Long-beaked Echidna

Zaglossus bruijnii

French: Echidné de Bruijn / German: Langschnabeligel / Spanish: Equidna de hocico largo occidental

Other common names: Long-beaked Echidna, Long-nosed Echidna, Long-nosed Spiny Anteater, New Guinea Long-nosed Echidna

Taxonomy. Tachyglossus bruijnii Peters & Doria, 1876 ,

Indonesia, Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya), Vogelkop , Manokwari Division, Arfak Mountains .

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Largely restricted to the Bird’s Head (= Vogelkop) and Bomberai (= Fakfak) peninsulas of NW New Guinea, and possibly the Charles Louis Mts; it has also been recorded from Salawati I but may now be extinct there; and it may also be present on Batanta and Waigeo Is.

Descriptive notes. There are no specific data for body measurements and weights. The Western Long-beaked Echidna is a medium-sized species of Zaglossus , differing from other species by possessing three (rarely four) claws on forefeet and hindfeet. Skull is smaller than that of the Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Z. barton: diamonds) to the east. The Western LLong-beaked Echidna is highly variable in color and density of its fur. Most individuals are black in overall fur color, but some are brown. Spine color varies from white to black, and amount of fur between spines is more variable than in other species of Zaglossus , probably reflecting the large elevational range of the Western Long-beaked Echidna.

Habitat. Tropical hill forests near sea level to upper montane forests at elevations of ¢.2500 m.

Food and Feeding. Although the Western Long-beaked Echidna has been reported to eat ants in captivity, the diet it is likely similar to that of the Eastern Long-beaked Echidna, which includes earthworms and a variety of soil and log-dwelling arthropods.

Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but breeding is likely to be similar to the Eastern LLong-beaked Echidna.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Western Long-beaked Echidna is mostly nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Western Long-beaked Echidna is likely to be similar to the Eastern Long-beaked Echidna.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Western Long-beaked Echidna has not been recorded in the wild since the 1980s. It has been hunted to extinction in densely populated regions and is uncommon in forest areas accessible to hunting, but it may still occur in inaccessible areas. The discovery of a well-documented but previously overlooked specimen of the Western Long-beaked Echidna that was collected in the Kimberley, Western Australia, in 1901, along with possible accounts given by aboriginal inhabitants of the East Kimberley, suggest that it may still persist in that region.

Bibliography. Flannery & Groves (1998), Helgen et al. (2012), Leary, Seri, Flannery, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Menzies, Allison, James, Aplin et al. (2008c).

Figures

On following pages: 4. Short-beaked Echidna (7achyglossus aculeatus).