Authority citation

Flannery, T.F. and Groves, C.P. 1998. A revision of the genus Zaglossus (Monotremata, Tachyglossidae), with description of new species and subspecies. Mammalia 62(3):367-396.

Authority publication link

Original name as described

Zaglossus attenboroughi

Other common names

Attenborough's Echidna · Attenborough's Long-nosed Echidna · Cyclops Long-beaked Echidna · Cyclops Long-nosed Echidna · Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna · Sir David's Long-nosed Echidna

Type material

RMNH.MAM.17301.a, RMNH.MAM.17301.b

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

Type locality

“‘Oost-top, Berg Rara, 1600 m,’ Cyclops Mountains, Dutch New Guinea [= Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia].”

Biogeographic realm

Australasia

Country distribution

Indonesia

Subregion distribution

Indonesia(PP)

Distribution notes

Known from a single specimen and recent camera trap images and videos from Berg Rara Mt in the Cyclops Mts, extreme N Papua Province, Indonesia on New Guinea.

Distribution references

Baillie, J. E., Turvey, S. T., & Waterman, C. (2009). Survival of Attenborough's long-beaked echidna Zaglossus attenboroughi in New Guinea. Oryx, 43(1), 146-148.

Taxonomy notes

This species was originally described based on morphological distinctions and a single specimen (Flannery & Groves 1998). However, unpublished molecular data apparently does not support the species status of _Z. attenboroughi_ as distinct from _Z. bartoni_ (Leary et al. 2016 based on K. Helgen pers. comm. in 2015). The species is recognized as distinct here pending the publication of a revision. Monotypic.

Taxonomy notes citation

IUCN Red List status

Critically Endangered

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