The western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii) is one of the four extantechidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occurs in New Guinea. Originally described as Tachyglossus bruijnii, this is the type species of Zaglossus.
The western long-beaked echidna is an egg-laying mammal. Unlike the short-beaked echidna, which eats ants and termites, the long-beaked species eats earthworms. The long-beaked echidna is also larger than the short-beaked species, reaching up to 16.5 kilograms (36 lb); the snout is longer and turns downward; and the spines are almost indistinguishable from the long fur. It is distinguished from the other Zaglossus species by the number of claws on the fore and hind feet: three (rarely four). It is the largest extant monotreme.[4]
Collection label reading "Mt Anderson", associated with a western long-beaked echidna (click to enlarge)
The Tring Collection of the British Museum of Natural History includes a western long-beaked echidna, with a collection label noting its collection by John T. Tunney in 1901. Curiously, the location of collection is noted as Mount Anderson, in the Kimberley region of north-west Australia. However, this species is otherwise thought to be extinct for millennia in Australia; the only other specimens of Zaglossus from Australia are fossils dated to the Pleistocene period.
It was presumed that the specimen was in fact collected from elsewhere and inadvertently attached to a Tunney collection label. Thus, the specimen received no further attention for many years.
A study by Helgen et al. (2012) examined the specimen and considered various aspects including the circumstantial improbability of a collection label misassignment, the uniqueness of ectoparasites found on the specimen, the similarity of some Kimberley forests to known habitat in New Guinea, an indigenous cave painting appearing to depict a long-beaked echidna, and the testimony of an Aboriginal elder. The study concludes that the specimen likely was collected in Australia as stated on the label. The researchers argue that the species ought to be recognised in the state's fauna as persisting into the modern era, and could potentially still be extant in poorly surveyed forests of north-western Australia; if locally extinct, reintroduction of this critically endangered species would be worth consideration.[5]
Burbidge (2017) disputes this conclusion, arguing against each line of evidence, and concluding that the specimen is likely from New Guinea but assigned an incorrect label.[6]
The species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN; numbers have decreased due to human activities including habitat loss and hunting. The western long-beaked echidna is considered a delicacy, and although commercial hunting of the species has been banned by the Indonesian government, traditional hunting is permitted.[2]
Referencesedit
^Groves, C.P. (2005). "Order Monotremata". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 2. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ abcLeary, T.; Seri, L.; Flannery, T.; Wright, D.; Hamilton, S.; Helgen, K.; Singadan, R.; Menzies, J.; Allison, A.; James, R.; Aplin, K.; Salas, L.; Dickman, C. (2016). "Zaglossus bruijnii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T23179A21964204. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T23179A21964204.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Helgen, Lauren; Kohen, James; Miguez, Roberto Portela; Helgen, Kristofer M. (28 December 2012). "Twentieth century occurrence of the Long-Beaked Echidna Zaglossus bruijnii in the Kimberley region of Australia". ZooKeys (255): 103–132. Bibcode:2012ZooK..255..103H. doi:10.3897/zookeys.255.3774. PMC3560862. PMID 23459668.
^Burbidge, Andrew A. (2017-12-21). "Did Zaglossus bruijnii occur in the Kimberley region of Western Australia?". Australian Mammalogy. 40 (2): 315–318. doi:10.1071/AM17053.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zaglossus bruijnii.
Augee, M and Gooden, B. 1993. Echidnas of Australia and New Guinea. Australian National History Press ISBN978-0-86840-046-4
Flannery T.F., Groves C.P. (1998). "A revision of the genus Zaglossus (Monotremata, Tachyglossidae), with description of new species and subspecies". Mammalia. 62 (3): 367–396. doi:10.1515/mamm.1998.62.3.367. S2CID 84750399.
January 01, 1970
western, long, beaked, echidna, western, long, beaked, echidna, zaglossus, bruijnii, four, extant, echidnas, three, species, zaglossus, that, occurs, guinea, originally, described, tachyglossus, bruijnii, this, type, species, zaglossus, conservation, status, c. The western long beaked echidna Zaglossus bruijnii is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occurs in New Guinea Originally described as Tachyglossus bruijnii this is the type species of Zaglossus Western long beaked echidna 1 Conservation status Critically Endangered IUCN 3 1 2 CITES Appendix II CITES 3 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Monotremata Family Tachyglossidae Genus Zaglossus Species Z bruijnii Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii Peters amp Doria 1876 Western long beaked echidna range green extant orange possibly extinct Synonyms Zaglossus bruijni Peters amp Doria 1876 orth error Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 2 1 Kimberley specimen 3 Conservation 4 References 5 Further readingDescription editThe western long beaked echidna is an egg laying mammal Unlike the short beaked echidna which eats ants and termites the long beaked species eats earthworms The long beaked echidna is also larger than the short beaked species reaching up to 16 5 kilograms 36 lb the snout is longer and turns downward and the spines are almost indistinguishable from the long fur It is distinguished from the other Zaglossus species by the number of claws on the fore and hind feet three rarely four It is the largest extant monotreme 4 Distribution and habitat editThe species is found in the Bird s Head and Bomberai Peninsulas in Western New Guinea of Indonesia at elevations up to 2 500 metres 8 200 ft Its preferred habitats are hill and montane forests 2 Kimberley specimen edit nbsp Collection label reading Mt Anderson associated with a western long beaked echidna click to enlarge The Tring Collection of the British Museum of Natural History includes a western long beaked echidna with a collection label noting its collection by John T Tunney in 1901 Curiously the location of collection is noted as Mount Anderson in the Kimberley region of north west Australia However this species is otherwise thought to be extinct for millennia in Australia the only other specimens of Zaglossus from Australia are fossils dated to the Pleistocene period It was presumed that the specimen was in fact collected from elsewhere and inadvertently attached to a Tunney collection label Thus the specimen received no further attention for many years A study by Helgen et al 2012 examined the specimen and considered various aspects including the circumstantial improbability of a collection label misassignment the uniqueness of ectoparasites found on the specimen the similarity of some Kimberley forests to known habitat in New Guinea an indigenous cave painting appearing to depict a long beaked echidna and the testimony of an Aboriginal elder The study concludes that the specimen likely was collected in Australia as stated on the label The researchers argue that the species ought to be recognised in the state s fauna as persisting into the modern era and could potentially still be extant in poorly surveyed forests of north western Australia if locally extinct reintroduction of this critically endangered species would be worth consideration 5 Burbidge 2017 disputes this conclusion arguing against each line of evidence and concluding that the specimen is likely from New Guinea but assigned an incorrect label 6 Conservation edit nbsp Taxidermy at the Bogor Zoology Museum The species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN numbers have decreased due to human activities including habitat loss and hunting The western long beaked echidna is considered a delicacy and although commercial hunting of the species has been banned by the Indonesian government traditional hunting is permitted 2 References edit Groves C P 2005 Order Monotremata In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press p 2 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b c Leary T Seri L Flannery T Wright D Hamilton S Helgen K Singadan R Menzies J Allison A James R Aplin K Salas L Dickman C 2016 Zaglossus bruijnii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T23179A21964204 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 2 RLTS T23179A21964204 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 http rarestzoo blogspot com 2006 07 long beaked echidna html gt Helgen Lauren Kohen James Miguez Roberto Portela Helgen Kristofer M 28 December 2012 Twentieth century occurrence of the Long Beaked Echidna Zaglossus bruijnii in the Kimberley region of Australia ZooKeys 255 103 132 Bibcode 2012ZooK 255 103H doi 10 3897 zookeys 255 3774 PMC 3560862 PMID 23459668 Burbidge Andrew A 2017 12 21 Did Zaglossus bruijnii occur in the Kimberley region of Western Australia Australian Mammalogy 40 2 315 318 doi 10 1071 AM17053 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zaglossus bruijnii Augee M and Gooden B 1993 Echidnas of Australia and New Guinea Australian National History Press ISBN 978 0 86840 046 4 Flannery T F Groves C P 1998 A revision of the genus Zaglossus Monotremata Tachyglossidae with description of new species and subspecies Mammalia 62 3 367 396 doi 10 1515 mamm 1998 62 3 367 S2CID 84750399 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Western long beaked echidna amp oldid 1220916278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
