Description
This species from New Guinea is a large, variably furred echidna with a much longer and more down curved bill than the more common Short-beaked Echidna. Like the Short-beaked Echidna it has spines of varying length interspersed with fur on the back, sides and tail.  The snout is tubular with a very small mouth, through which the long tongue can be rapidly extruded and retracted.   The echidna vary in size from 7 - 8.5 kg and attain a length of approximately 60cm.  

Distribution
The Long-beaked Echidna is widespread in New Guinea, being reported from both the western and eastern extremities of the island. It is absent from the Fly plains and northern New Guinea at altitudes below 1200m, as well as all of the North Coast Range. It has been reported from a wide variety of altitudes ranging from sea level to 4150 metres.

Diet
Although there are some reports that the Long-beaked Echidna will eat ants and termites, the primary food of the Long-beaked Echidna is almost certainly worms.  Apparently worms are probed with the long beak until the end is found. The tongue is then extruded and the worm impaled on the unique backwardly pointing spines of the tongue tip.

General Information
Little is known of the natural history of Long-beaked Echidnas even, apparently by the native people of New Guinea.  It is almost certain that they lay eggs and by analogy with the Short-beaked Echidna it is also likely that they carry their young in a pouch.  It is suspected that breeding in the Long-beaked Echidna is seasonal because reproductively active animals were caught in July and a male caught three and a half months later showed regression of the testes.

Long-beaked Echidnas are inquisitive and relatively unafraid even when recently captured and seldom make any noise other than a soft snuffling, snorting sound.

Conservation Status and Threats
Wherever Long-beaked Echidnas are found, human population densities are low.  They are listed as a rare species and are reported as being extinct in large areas of the New Guinea Central Highlands.  They appear also to have declined in the Telefomin area over the past 20 years, where traditional taboos against eating them have begun to break down under missionary influence.

Proposed Research
Taronga Zoo holds the only examples of this species outside New Guinea. Work has already commenced on reproductive cycling in the female. Fundamental research is necessary to breed the species in captivity. Even short beaked Echidnas very rarely breed in captivity.

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