The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

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IUCN 2008: T23179A21964204

Zaglossus bruijnii, Western Long-beaked Echidna

Assessment by: Leary, T. et al.

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Short citation: Leary, T. et al. 2016. Zaglossus bruijnii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2016: e.T23179A21964204. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T23179A21964204.en
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Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Monotremata Tachyglossidae

Taxon Name: Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters & Doria, 1876)

Synonym(s):
• Zaglossus bruijni (Peters & Doria, 1876) [orth. error]

Common Name(s):
• English: Western Long-beaked Echidna, Long-beaked Echidna, Long-nosed Echidna, Long-nosed
Spiny Anteater, New Guinea Long-nosed Echidna
• French: Echidné À Bec Courbe, Echidné À Nez Long, Echidné De Nouvelle-guinée
• Spanish: Echidnos Narilargos, Equidna De Nueva Guinea
Taxonomic Notes:
This species is often listed as Zaglossus bruijni, but the correct spelling is Z. bruijnii (K. Helgen pers.
comm. 2008). The distinctiveness of Z. bruijnii from Z. bartoni of the central portion of New Guinea is
confirmed by unpublished genetic and morphological studies (K. Helgen per. comm. 2015).

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Critically Endangered A2acd ver 3.1

Year Published: 2016

Date Assessed: July 24, 2015

Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered due to a suspected continuing population decline of at least 80% over the
last three generations (i.e., the last 45-50 years) based on direct observation in parts of its range,
declines in area of occupancy (based on reports from hunters), and actual levels of exploitation due to
hunting. We have very little reliable knowledge of population status and trend for this species, but there
is cause for serious concern because of ongoing threats due to transmigration, forestry activity and
resource development within its geographic range, which is evidently small.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2008 – Critically Endangered (CR) – http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T23179A9426076.en

1996 – Endangered (EN)

1994 – Endangered (E)

1990 – Vulnerable (V)

1988 – Vulnerable (V)

1986 – Vulnerable (V)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 1
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1982 – Vulnerable (V)

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is recorded only from the Vogelkop Peninsula region of Papua Province, Indonesia and the
adjacent landbridge island of Salawati. It is possible that the species may be present on the oceanic
islands of Batanta and Waigeo (both Indonesia – not mapped) (Flannery 1995a,b; Helgen 2007). It has
been recorded across a broad elevational range, from near sea level to 2,500 m a.s.l.

Helgen et al. (2012) reported on a previously overlooked specimen collected in the Kimberley region of
northwestern Australia in 1901. This specimen suggests that the distribution of the species extended
into northwestern Australia where it persisted as a rare species until the early twentieth century.

Country Occurrence:
Native: Indonesia (Papua)

Possibly extinct: Australia (Western Australia)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 2
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Distribution Map
Zaglossus bruijnii

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 3
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Population
This species has not been definitely recorded since the 1980s. A Meybrat informant (Elimas Kambuaya)
interviewed at Ayamaru (c. 350 m a.s.l.) in 1995 claimed that Zaglossus "lives in the surroundings of
Mapura/Suwiam and between Mapura/Suwai and Kokas (a village close to Ajawasi) and around Ajawasi.
It is rare on the other side of the lake (Ayamaru, Kartapura/Men, Kambuaya)" (Pasveer 2004: Appendix
3).

Although it is uncertain whether these statements referred to a strictly contemporary situation, it is

noted that the Ayamura Plateau is a rugged karst plateau with low human population density and large
areas of relatively undisturbed forest. The regional occurrence of Z. bruijnii on the Ayamaru Plateau into
late prehistoric times is confirmed archaeologically (Pasveer 2004).

There is little certainty over whether the species is currently decreasing. This depends on whether areas
of formerly remote habitat on the Vogelkop are being opened up and if so whether this is resulting in
the incursion of hunters. If the intensity of hunting is decreasing in areas such as the Ayamaru Plateau,
populations might be increasing locally.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

This species ranges from tropical hill forests to upper montane forests. It has a large altitudinal range
and occurs across multiple landforms including rugged karst terrain. The ecology of Z. bruijnii is
presumably broadly similar to other species of Zaglossus, but nothing is known about this species in
particular.

The life history of long-beaked echidnas is unknown but is probably similar to that of the short-beaked
echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus (Augee et al. 2006), which rears a single young at a time, has a long
weaning period (approx 7 months) and slow sexual maturation. This low reproductive potential is
compensated by a long lifespan.

Systems: Terrestrial

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

All long-beaked echidnas Zaglossus are highly susceptible to human predation with the use of trained
hunting dogs able to detect and follow the animals to their daytime retreats, even in densely forested
habitat. Except with the aid of dogs, long-beaked echidnas are extremely difficult to locate as they occur
at naturally low densities and are nocturnal.

Habitat degradation and conversion may be significant, but given the ecological breadth displayed by
long-beaked echidnas, habitat changes are unlikely to be important as primary threats. However, they
probably increase the likelihood of detection and predation, and there is a clear correlation between
habitat conversion or degradation and regional extinction of other species of Zaglossus.

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 4
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This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. It has been recorded from at least one nature reserve
(Pegunungan Arfak Nature Reserve). Hunting regulations may be needed to protect certain populations.
Further field studies are needed to determine the current distribution and status of the species and to
identify important populations for its long-term conservation.

Credits
Assessor(s): 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.

Reviewer(s): Pacifici, M.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 5
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Bibliography
Augee, M. L., Gooden, B. and Musser, A. 2006. Echidna: extraordinary eg-laying mammal. CSIRO
Publishing, Melbourne.

Flannery, T.F. 1995. Mammals of the South-West Pacific and Moluccan Islands. Comstock/Cornell, Ithaca,
Ny, USA.

Flannery, T.F. 1995. The Mammals of New Guinea, 2nd edition. Reed Books, Sydney, Australia.

Flannery, T. F. and Groves, C. P. 1988. A revision of the genus Zaglossus (Monotremata, Tachyglossidae),
with description of new species and subspecies. Mammalia 62: 367-396.

Helgen, K. M. 2007. A Taxonomic and Geographic Overview of the Mammals of Papua. In: A. J. Marshall
and B. M. Beehler (eds), The Ecology of Papua, pp. 689-749. Periplus Editions, Singapore.

Helgen, K. M., Miguez, R. P., Kohen, J. L. and Helgen, L. E. 2012. Twentieth century occurrence of the
Long-Beaked Echidna Zaglossus bruijnii in the Kimberley region of Australia. ZooKeys 255: 103-132.

IUCN. 2016. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 04 September 2016).

Pacifici, M., Santini, L., Di Marco, M., Baisero, D., Francucci, L., Grottolo Marasini, G., Visconti, P. and
Rondinini, C. 2013. Generation length for mammals. Nature Conservation 5: 87–94.

Pasveer, J. 2004. The Djief Hunters. 26,000 years of rainforest exploitation on the Bird’s Head of Papua,
Indonesia. A. A. Balkema, Leiden.

Citation
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 bruijnii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2016: e.T23179A21964204. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-
2.RLTS.T23179A21964204.en

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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 6
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T23179A21964204.en
 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland - Suitable Yes

1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane - Suitable Yes

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant Medium
perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder 90%) declines impact: 6

farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

5. Biological resource use -> 5.1. Hunting & trapping Ongoing Majority (50- Rapid declines Medium
terrestrial animals -> 5.1.1. Intentional use (species is 90%) impact: 7

the target)
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning

Action Recovery plan: No

Systematic monitoring scheme: No

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over part of range

Occur in at least one PA: Yes

Invasive species control or prevention: No

In-Place Species Management

Harvest management plan: No

Successfully reintroduced or introduced beningly: No

Subject to ex-situ conservation: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 7
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 Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Education

Subject to recent education and awareness programmes: No

Included in international legislation: Yes

Subject to any international management/trade controls: Yes

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions Needed

1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection

1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection

3. Species management -> 3.1. Species management -> 3.1.1. Harvest management

4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): No

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 142937

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): No

Continuing decline in number of locations: Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: No

Lower elevation limit (m): 0

Upper elevation limit (m): 2500

Population
Population severely fragmented: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 8
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 Population
Continuing decline in subpopulations: Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in subpopulations: No

All individuals in one subpopulation: Unknown

Habitats and Ecology

Generation Length (years): 16

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Zaglossus bruijnii – published in 2016. 9
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The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™