BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Long-beaked echidna, long-nosed echidna, long-nosed spiny anteater, New Guinea long-nosed echidna

Long-beaked echidna, long-nosed echidna, long-nosed spiny anteater, New Guinea long-nosed echidna
Zaglossus (Tachyglossidae) bruneiji

Along with platypuses, echidnas are the only egg-laying mammals.

Pronunciation of scientific name
zah-glos-us brue-nee-ee

Life span
Over 30 years in captivity

Statistics
570-650cm in length, 7kg weight.

Physical Description
Echidnas have a light-brown coat with spines on the back and sides. The spines are made of hair. They have a long, tubular, hairless snout and a short blunt tail. Males have a horny spur on the ankle of their hind himbs.

Distribution
They are present throughout the island of New Guinea except in the southern lowlands and north coast, but possibly present from the westerly islands of Salawatti and Waigeo. The population is estimated at 300,000 individuals, a density of 1.6/km².

Habitat
They inhabit alpine meadows, as high as 4,000m above sea level, and humid montane forests.

Diet
Earthworms make up the main component of their diet, but they also feed on other soil-dwelling invertebrates.

Behaviour
They are nocturnal and forage in the forest litter layer for prey.

Reproduction
Breeding, usually in July, typically produces a litter of 4-6. Echidnas lay eggs, which are kept in a pouch.

Conservation status
They are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Closest relative
The short-beaked echidna of New Guinea and Australia