Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna |
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Z. attenboroughi
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| Zaglossus attenboroughi |
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The Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi) is a very special animal. It is also known as the Cyclops Long-beaked Echidna. This echidna is one of three types of long-beaked echidnas found only in New Guinea. It was named after the famous nature expert, Sir David Attenborough. This unique creature lives in the Cyclops mountains in the Papua province of Indonesia, close to the cities of Sentani and Jayapura.
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Discovering the Echidna
This echidna was first described from a single animal found around 1961, during the time when the Dutch ruled the area. Since then, no other Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna has been officially found or collected. This makes it a very rare and mysterious animal!
Why is it so hard to find?
The forests in the Cyclops mountains, where this echidna lives, have changed a lot recently. This has made people worried that the echidna might be endangered or even gone from some areas. However, many parts of these mountains are covered in thick, wild jungle. Scientists have not been able to search these areas since 1961. So, it is possible that this amazing animal is still living there, or in other nearby mountain ranges.
Recent Clues
In 2007, scientists found some holes in the ground that they think were made by this echidna. They believe the echidna pokes its long nose into the dirt to search for earthworms, which are a favorite food. These holes give hope that the echidna is still out there!
What Does It Look Like?
The Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna is the smallest of all the long-beaked echidnas. It is about the same size as the Short-beaked Echidna. It has five claws on both its front and back feet. Its body is covered in thick, short fur.
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