Attenborough’s Long-Beaked Echidna Zaglossus attenboroughi

Attenborough’s Long-Beaked Echidna Zaglossus attenboroughi

Critically Endangered

Extant (resident)

West Papua

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Attenborough’s long-beaked #echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), known locally as “Payangko,” is one of the most evolutionarily distinct mammals and is native to the Cyclops Mountains in Indonesian occupied #WestPapua. This critically endangered monotreme is distinguished by its unique feeding technique and smaller size compared to other long-beaked echidnas. Despite not being recorded by scientists since 1961, a recent expedition led to its rediscovery in 2023, offering renewed hope for the species. Facing threats from #hunting and habitat degradation, we must protect this elusive creature by supporting sustainable practices and community-led conservation. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

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Appearance & Behaviour

As the smallest member of the genus Zaglossus, the Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is comparable in size to the short-beaked echidna. Males have spurs on their hind legs, and both sexes sport a long, narrow beak. They are solitary, coming together only once a year to mate. When threatened, they curl into a spiny ball, resembling a hedgehog.

• Monotreme Lineage: One of the few egg-laying mammals, with ancestors dating back 46 million years.
• Rediscovered Species: After not being recorded for over six decades, this critically endangered species was spotted through trail camera footage in 2023.
• Nose Pokes: Their distinctive feeding behavior leaves behind “nose pokes” in the soil, revealing where they dig for earthworms and termites.

Threats

Long thought extinct for decades, a chance discovery of them on camera traps revealed they have survived. Yet they are critically endangered due to serious ongoing threats:

• Hunting with Dogs: Local hunting practices using trained dogs to detect their burrows pose a significant threat.
• Habitat Destruction: Logging for timber, palm oil agriculture, and forest conversion for gold mining make these echidnas put these animals at risk.
• Hunting: Forest clearance puts them at risk for predation and hunting.

You can help them to survive when you consciously avoid and boycott products with palm oil in them and support local efforts to protect them. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Habitat

This species is found exclusively in the tropical montane forests of the Cyclops Mountains in Papua, Indonesia. Their range includes lowland to montane elevations.

Diet

Their diet consists primarily of earthworms, termites, insect larvae, and ants. They use their long beaks to sniff out prey and then dig with their powerful claws, leaving behind the characteristic “nose poke” marks.

Mating and breeding

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidnas come together only once a year for mating. The female lays an egg, and the offspring remain in the mother’s pouch for around eight weeks until their spines develop. They have a long weaning period of approximately seven months.

Support Attenborough’s Long-Beaked Echidna by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

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 attenboroughi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T136322A21964353. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136322A21964353.en. Accessed on 09 May 2024.

Re:wild. (2023). Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna rediscovered. https://rewild.org/news/attenboroughs-long-beaked-echidna-rediscovered

Reuters. (2023, November 10). Species of mammal named after David Attenborough believed extinct rediscovered. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/10/attenborough-long-beaked-echidna-seen-first-time-cyclops-mountain-photos-footage

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenborough%27s_long-beaked_echidna

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