western long-beaked echidna

The western long-beaked echidna is one of four species of echidnas, which are egg-laying mammals belonging to the order Monotremata. These unique animals are found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Echidnas have a distinctive tubular beak with electroreceptors to sense prey, and their bodies are covered in spines.12

The western long-beaked echidna, found in the Indonesian province of West Papua, is characterized by a downward-pointing beak and fewer, shorter spines compared to the short-beaked echidna. These echidnas are among the largest, with some individuals reaching up to 77.5 cm (31 inches) in length and weighing 16.5 kg (36 pounds). All three species of long-beaked echidnas are considered threatened due to hunting and habitat loss.2