Long-beaked echidna

Long -beaked Echidna

The long -beaked echidna, and long -billed echidna ( Zaglossus ) are a kind of egg-laying mammals of the family of echidnas ( Tachyglossidae ). About the number of species are unclear, it is now mostly out of three extant species.

Description

Long -beaked echidna reach a body length 45-77 cm and a weight of 5 to 16 kg. The shoulder height is 40 cm. Some of the fourth and fifth claw are regressed on the front and hind feet. In contrast to the short -beaked echidna their spines are shorter, sparser present and partially hidden in the fur. In addition, long -beaked echidna are long-legged. The tubular snout is longer and significantly bent downward; it has a highly trained sense of smell. The ears are small. The fur is brown or black.

Dissemination and lifestyle

Long -beaked echidna are endemic to New Guinea, where they inhabit forest areas mainly, but can also occur in areas at high altitudes up to 4000 meters above sea level. These animals are crepuscular or nocturnal and live solitary outside the breeding season. Their diet consists mainly of earthworms, which they take with their long, sticky tongue, which help them small barbs on the tongue. About a month after mating is placed in the brood pouch, a 17 mm large egg. About one week later, the cub slips and remains about ten days in the bag. After another ten days the boy leaves the bag and there is the coming weeks in a nest; the mother makes during this time continue their offspring. The highest ever reached the age of a long beak hedgehog in captivity was 31 years are no figures for the wild.

Threat

Through deforestation their habitat is increasingly restricted. In addition, the meat of the long -beaked echidna is considered a delicacy. Specially trained dogs hunt animals and bring them down. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as threatened ( endangered ).

System

The long -beaked echidna, together with the living in Australia short -beaked echidna, the family of echidnas. About the number of species of long -beaked echidna is confusion. In olden times of several types, later they took all together into a kind, the long -beaked echidna ( Zaglossus bruijni ). Today, three recent and two fossil only known species can be distinguished:

• Barton Long -beaked Echidna ( Zaglossus Bartoni )
• Western Long -beaked Echidna ( Zaglossus brujini )
• Attenborough Long - beaked Echidna ( Zaglossus attenboroughi ).
• † Zaglossus hacketti (Western Australia, extinct about 15,000 years ago. Length of about 1 meter, only a few skeletal remains )
• † Zaglossus robustus ( Tasmania in the Pleistocene, known by a fossil skull, probably about 65 cm long)

For detailed information, see the echidna.