Western Long-beaked Echidna
Zaglossus bruijni
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Monotremata
Family
Tachyglossidae
Genus
Zaglossus
Western Long-beaked Echidna belongs to the family Tachyglossidae, order Monotremata, within the Mammalia class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Western Long-beaked Echidna faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and mining activities across its limited range in New Guinea. Hunting pressure for food and traditional uses, combined with the species' slow reproductive rate and small population size, has pushed this unique monotreme to the brink of extinction.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits montane and submontane forests, grasslands, and alpine meadows primarily between 1,300-4,000m elevation in the central highlands of New Guinea. The species prefers areas with dense vegetation cover and soft soils suitable for foraging on earthworms and other invertebrates.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Western Long-beaked Echidna faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and mining activities across its limited range in New Guinea. Hunting pressure for food and traditional uses, combined with the species' slow reproductive rate and small population size, has pushed this unique monotreme to the brink of extinction.
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Habitat loss and fragmentation from deforestation
Hunting for food and traditional purposes
Mining and extractive industries
Slow reproductive rate limiting population recovery
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Western Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruijni). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/western-long-beaked-echidna