Hunting and habitat loss are the primary reasons for the decline of this species. A critically endangered species, Sir David's long-beaked echidna was almost considered to be extinct in the 1900s until the evidence of their unique nose pokes was discovered in the Cyclops Mountains. They prefer to live in isolation and only come together to mate. The animals feed on termites, ants, insect larvae and earthworms. This echidna species is the smallest among the species of its genus and is closer in size to the short-beaked echidna.
The animals live in the Cyclops Mountains of New Guinea and are named after the eminent naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. Sir David's long-beaked echidna ( Zaglossus attenboroughi) is one of the three species of the genus Zaglossus. Four subspecies of the eastern long-beaked echidna are recognized. Feral dogs are also known to prey on the echidnas. Deforestation and hunting are the two biggest threats to these animals. The eastern long-beaked echidna is classified as a "vulnerable" species by the IUCN. The insectivorous species uses its long snout to dig deep into the ground in search of ticks and larvae. The animal has dense black fur and is about 60 to 100 centimetres long. The animals are distinguished from other Zaglossus species by the presence of four claws on the hind feet and five claws on the fore feet. Here, they live in sub-alpine forests, upland scrub, in grassland areas, or in tropical hill forests. The eastern long-beaked echidna ( Zaglossus bartoni) is an echidna species found at elevations between 6,600 and 9,800 feet in New Guinea. The animal is considered to be a delicacy in the parts of the world and although commercial hunting of the species is banned, traditional hunting continues. Habitat loss and hunting have drastically reduced the numbers of this species and it is currently classified as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN. The echidnas feed primarily on earthworms. The western long-beaked echidna has a longer, downward bent snout than the short-beaked echidna. It possesses three claws on the fore and hind feet, a feature that distinguishes it from other Zaglossus species. The western long-beaked echidna is the largest living monotreme species. The animals can be spotted living in alpine meadows and humid montane forests at elevations ranging between 4,300 and 13,100 feet. Here, it lives in the Foja Mountains and Bird's Head Peninsula of the Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia. The western long-beaked echidna ( Zaglossus bruijni ) is found on the island of New Guinea. The main features of these species are described below. Four species of echidnas and the duck-billed platypus account for the five monotreme species living in the world today. All of the surviving members of the monotreme group are indigenous to the island of New Guinea and Australia.
Unlike marsupial and placental animals, these mammals do not give birth to live young ones. The 5 Species Of Monotremes Living Today An echidna.īasal egg-laying mammals are called monotremes.
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