Zaglossus attenboroughi

Attenborough's long-beaked echidna
Z. attenboroughi specimen
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Monotremata
Family: Tachyglossidae
Genus: Zaglossus
Species:
Z. attenboroughi
Binomial name
Zaglossus attenboroughi

Zaglossus attenboroughi, also known as Attenborough's long-beaked echidna or locally as Payangko, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus that inhabits the island of New Guinea.[3] It lives in the Cyclops Mountains, which are near the cities of Sentani and Jayapura in the Indonesian province of Papua. It is named in honour of naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

It is currently classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, and there had been no confirmed sightings between its initial collection in 1961 and November 2023, when the first video footage of a living individual was recorded.[4]

  1. ^ 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". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136322A21964353. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136322A21964353.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. ^ Main, Douglas (9 November 2023). "An Expedition Finds a 'Lost' Mammal and a Shrimp That Lives in Trees - In the Cyclops Mountains in the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea, Oxford scientists and local guides made a series of spectacular discoveries". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  4. ^ "First-ever images prove 'lost echidna' not extinct". BBC News. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.