Echymipera davidi, Flannery, 1990

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

10.

David’s Echymipera

Echymipera davidi

French: Bandicoot de David / German: Kiriwina-Stachelnasenbeutler / Spanish: Bandicut espinoso de David

Other common names: Kiriwina Bandicoot, Kiriwina Echymipera

Taxonomy. Echymipera davidi Flannery, 1990 ,

Kiriwina Island (08° 30° S, 151° 00" E), Trobriand Islands , Papua New Guinea.

Apparently not closely related to any other species within the genus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Kiriwina I, in Trobriand Group, off SE New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 32.7-39.7 cm, tail 10-8 cm; weight 950 g. Head body measurements refer to two males, and tail length and body weight to a single individual; no females have been measured. This distinctive island endemic can be distinguished from other Echymipera spp. by its uniformly brown coloration, sparse coat with both fine hair and stiff, flattened hairs, relatively short snout, and absence of a black pad on hindfoot. It also has molars with small hypocones (cusps on rear internal corner of upper molars) and other dental and cranial features that separate it from other members of genus. Ears are dark and relatively short, forefeet and hindfeet are covered dorsally in short brown hair, and tail is covered with prominent scales.

Habitat. Kiriwina Island is extensively cultivated, and has only small areas of swamp and primary forest that have not been disturbed. This echymipera appears to persist in degraded forest and young regrowth forest in close proximity to the resident human population. Specimens in 1956 were collected near village of Liluta at elevation of 10 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species.

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The population trend is not known. It is represented by five specimens, collected in 1945, 1956, and 1987. As Kiriwina Island coversjust 264 km?, has a high human population density, and is extensively disturbed, “endangered” status for this species would appear to be well justified; as no specimens have been obtained since 1987, and it is not known to occur in any protected areas, it would seem, however, that the species could just as easily be considered Critically Endangered or even Data Deficient. More surveys are needed on Kiriwina and other nearby islands to ascertain the true status of this enigmatic peramelid. When its population status is better known, and threats to its persistence are understood, more informed prescriptions may then be made to ensure that this species can be conserved and managed in future.

Bibliography. Brass (1959), Flannery (1990b, 1995b), Groves (2005c).

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. Kiriwina I, in Trobriand Group, off SE New Guinea.