The long-beaked echidna is an elusive mammal. It belongs to the monotreme order, a distinct group characterized by their ability to lay eggs, a trait uncommon among mammals. Found exclusively on the island of New Guinea, its biology and secretive nature contribute to its rarity.
Physical Characteristics and Species
Long-beaked echidnas are larger than their short-beaked relatives, weighing between 5 to 10 kilograms and measuring up to 77.5 centimeters in length. Their bodies are covered in dense, coarse hair interspersed with spines, which are shorter and less numerous than those found on the short-beaked echidna. A defining feature is their long, downward-curving snout, or “beak,” which can account for up to two-thirds of their head’s length.
The echidna’s beak is tubular and functions as both nose and mouth. They possess a toothless mouth, instead relying on a horny plate at the back of their mouth and sharp, backward-pointing barbs on their sticky tongue to process food. Three living species of long-beaked echidna are recognized: the Western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijni), the Eastern long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bartoni), and Sir David’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi).
Habitat and Diet
Long-beaked echidnas inhabit the high-altitude forests, alpine meadows, and rugged terrains across New Guinea, found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 4,150 meters. Their strong, large claws are well-suited for digging burrows and navigating these environments.
Their diet consists primarily of earthworms, although they also consume insects and larvae. The echidna uses its long beak to probe the soft soil and leaf litter, locating prey with a keen sense of smell and specialized electroreceptors located on the snout.
Unique Reproduction and Behavior
As monotremes, female long-beaked echidnas lay a single, soft-shelled, leathery egg, about 1.4 centimeters long and weighing 1.5 to 2 grams. This egg is deposited directly into a temporary pouch that develops on her abdomen. The young, called a “puggle,” hatches after approximately 10 days, using a reptile-like egg tooth to break out of the shell.
The puggle remains in the mother’s pouch for 45 to 55 days, nursing by rubbing its beak against specialized milk patches, as echidnas lack nipples. Once spines begin to develop, the puggle is moved to a nursery burrow where it continues to be suckled every few days until weaning at around seven months. Long-beaked echidnas are primarily nocturnal, solitary, and shy, often resting in burrows or hollow logs during the day.
Conservation Status and Threats
All three species of long-beaked echidna face conservation challenges. The Western long-beaked echidna and Sir David’s long-beaked echidna are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, while the Eastern long-beaked echidna is listed as Vulnerable. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss and overhunting.
Forest clearing for logging and the expansion of small-scale agriculture are degrading and fragmenting their natural habitats. Long-beaked echidnas are also hunted by local communities for food, often with the aid of trained dogs, which intensifies pressure on their populations. A hopeful development occurred in 2023 with the rediscovery of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna in the Cyclops Mountains of Indonesia, a species thought to be extinct since 1961. This rediscovery, aided by camera traps and indigenous knowledge, highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect these ancient mammals and their ecosystems.