Echymupera clara, Stein, 1932

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Peramelidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 362-398 : 395

9.

Clara’s Echymipera

Echymupera clara

French: Bandicoot de Clara / German: Clara-Stachelnasenbeutler / Spanish: Bandicut espinoso de Clara

Other common names: Clara Bandicoot, Clara's Bandicoot, White-lipped Bandicoot

Taxonomy. FEchymipera clara Stein, 1932 ,

Japen (=Yapen) I , Tjenderawasih Division, Papua Province (= Irian Jaya), Indonesia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Yapen I, in Cenderawasih (= Geelvink) Bay, and N lowlands of New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 27-41 cm, tail 8-10.6 cm; weight 0-82-17 kg. Males can weigh at least 50% more than females, and have relatively more massive head with highly developed sagittal crest; males also have very large canines, and have heavier, more robust premolars than females. These features, together with a difference in coloration ofbelly fur (pale in females, salmon-colored in males), can make sexes appear like different species. Dorsal fur of both sexes is dark and unpatterned, and less spiny than that of other Echymipera spp. A large and well-developed black pad is present on hindfoot. This species has been termed “White-lipped Bandicoot” in some early works owing to white hair and skin around lips, but this coloration is not present on all specimens.

Habitat. Appears to be restricted largely to undisturbed, primary rainforest at 300-1700 m, although occasional specimens have been captured in secondary forest or village gardens. Like other peramelids, this speciesis strictly terrestrial and appears to make simple nests underleaflitter, moss and other debris on the forest floor.

Food and Feeding. This species is suspected to be omnivorous, but to date only figs and pandan fruits ( Pandanus , Pandanaceae ) have been recorded in the diet.

Breeding. Females have six nipples. Litters of one or two young have been reported in January and July.

Activity patterns. Mianmin hunters reportthis species as being strictly nocturnal and to rest by day under shelter on the forest floor.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The population trend is not known. This species is broadly distributed in areas where human population density is low and where disturbance to its preferred rainforest habitat is not extensive. It can be locally abundant, appears readily to tolerate hunting pressure, and is not known to be affected adversely by other potential threats. It also occurs in a number of protected areas. Even though the population trend is not known, these observations suggest that this peramelid is currently secure.

Bibliography. Aplin et al. (2010), Flannery (1995a, 1995b), George & Maynes (1990), Groves (2005c), Groves & Flannery (1990), Menzies (2011), Stein (1932), Tate (1948b), Van Deusen & Keith (1966), Ziegler (1977, 1982).

Figures

9. Clara’s Echymipera (Echymupera clara), 10. David’s Echymipera (Echymipera davidi), 11. Menzies’s Echymipera (Echymipera echinista), 12. Common Echymipera (Echymipera kalubu), 13. Long-nosed Echymipera (Echymipera rufescens), 14. Striped Bandicoot (Microperoryctes longicauda), 15. Mouse Bandicoot (Microperoryctes murina), 16. Arfak Pygmy Bandicoot (Microperoryctes aplin), 17. Papuan Bandicoot (Microperoryctes papuensis), 18. Seram Bandicoot (Rhynchomeles prattorum)

Distribution. Yapen I, in Cenderawasih (= Geelvink) Bay, and N lowlands of New Guinea.