Western Long-Beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii)
The Western Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii) is primarily found in the mountainous forests and elevated alpine meadows of New Guinea. This egg-laying mammal eats soil invertebrates, unlike the short-beaked echidna. It is also bigger, with a longer snout pointing downwards and lacks teeth. The tail is short, and the back is covered in spines hidden by a coarse brown or black hair. The feet have three claws instead of four. It is believed to be solitary, nocturnal, and highly elusive. When threatened, it rolls into a ball of radiating spines or digs into burrows since it is not agile.
The Western Long-Beaked Echidna has a body length in the range of 17.7”-30.7” (45-78 cm) and total weight of 22-36.4 lb (10-16.5 kg). The Western Long-Beaked Echidna has an estimated body height between 12.2”-21.25” (31-54 cm) and body width of 7.9”-13.4” (20-34 cm). The typical lifespan of the Western Long-Beaked Echidna is between 12-41 years.
The Western Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii) is primarily found in the mountainous forests and elevated alpine meadows of New Guinea. This egg-laying mammal eats soil invertebrates, unlike the short-beaked echidna. It is also bigger, with a longer snout pointing downwards and lacks teeth. The tail is short, and the back is covered in spines hidden by a coarse brown or black hair. The feet have three claws instead of four. It is believed to be solitary, nocturnal, and highly elusive. When threatened, it rolls into a ball of radiating spines or digs into burrows since it is not agile.
The Western Long-Beaked Echidna has a body length in the range of 17.7”-30.7” (45-78 cm) and total weight of 22-36.4 lb (10-16.5 kg). The Western Long-Beaked Echidna has an estimated body height between 12.2”-21.25” (31-54 cm) and body width of 7.9”-13.4” (20-34 cm). The typical lifespan of the Western Long-Beaked Echidna is between 12-41 years.
