Attenborough long-billed hedgehog
| Attenborough long-billed hedgehog | ||||||||||||
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| Zaglossus attenboroughi | ||||||||||||
| Flannery & Groves , 1998 |
The Attenborough long-billed urchin ( Zaglossus attenboroughi ), also known as Sir David's long-billed urchin or Cyclops long-billed urchin , is one of the three species of the genus Zaglossus that are endemic to the island of New Guinea . This species is named in honor of David Attenborough . This species lives in the Cyclops Mountains in western New Guinea near the cities of Sentani and Jayapura .
features
The Attenborough long-billed urchin is the smallest species of the long- billed urchin genus and is more similar in size to the short-billed urchin than other species in its genus. This species has five claws each on the front and rear paws and a thick, black fur.
Little is known about his behavior. It is believed that it retreats to its shallow burrow during the day and searches for worms in the earth with its long beak at night.
distribution
The Attenborough long-billed hedgehog is only known from a single specimen that was found around 1961 during the Dutch colonial period. No other specimen has been scientifically documented since then.
The ongoing human-induced destruction of the habitat - the forests of the Cyclops Mountains - led to the population being considered endangered or even exterminated. However, it is possible that animals of this species still exist there or in neighboring mountains. On July 15, 2007, EDGE program researchers studying the Cyclops Mountains of New Guinea reported caves and tracks seen that may have belonged to Attenborough long-billed urchins. In addition, conversations with local residents revealed that this species was likely spotted in 2005. The species is listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered (critically endangered).
Individual evidence
literature
- Tim F. Flannery and Colin P. Groves: A revision of the genus Zaglossus (Monotremata, Tachyglossidae), with description of new species and subspecies . Mammalia 62 (3): 367–396, 1998, online version of the first description ( Memento from May 15, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF, English; 1.8 MB)
- Colin Groves : Zaglossus attenboroughi. In: DE Wilson and DM Reeder (eds.): Mammal Species of the World. 3rd Edition, Volume 1, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2005 ISBN 0-8018-8221-4
Web links
- Zaglossus attenboroughi inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.2. Posted by: 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, et al. a., 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2016.