Long-beaked echidnas[1] | |
---|---|
Western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijni) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Monotremata |
Family: | Tachyglossidae |
Genus: | Zaglossus Gill, 1877 |
Type species | |
Tachyglossus bruijni | |
Species | |
Synonyms | |
|
The long-beaked echidnas (genus Zaglossus) make up one of the two extant genera of echidnas: there are three extant species, all living in New Guinea.[2][3] They are medium-sized, solitary mammals covered with coarse hair and spines made of keratin. They have short, strong limbs with large claws, and are powerful diggers. They forage in leaf litter on the forest floor, eating earthworms and insects.
The species are
The Eastern species is listed as vulnerable, while the Attenborough's and western long-beaked echidna species are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.[4][5][6]
IUCN_David's
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).IUCN_Eastern
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).IUCN_Western
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).