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From The Times
July 16, 2007

I didn’t know creature was rare, says tribesman who liked it well done

Echida
Lewis Smith, Environment Reporter

Fears that one of the world’s rarest creatures had been driven to extinction have been allayed by a tribesman who told conservationists he had recently eaten one.

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, a little-known, primitive mammal that lays eggs, lives in Papua New Guinea. Only one specimen, found in 1961, has ever been seen by scientists.

But fresh evidence that proves the echidna, which was named in honour of the naturalist Sir David Attenborough, is still alive has been found during an expedition by zoologists. Seven people told the scientists that they had seen the spiny creature, which is a relative of the platypus.

One of the villagers said that he had trapped one in a snare and eaten it in the jungle, being unaware of how rare and sought-after the echidna was. “It was delicious,” he said.

Further proof of the echidna’s survival was found in the form of holes in the ground which showed where the creature had been hunting for worms to eat. The holes were from the animal’s distinctive beak and in some places it had pressed so far into the soft mud that it had left impressions of its head in the ground. Burrows were also found, but none was occupied.

Sir David Attenborough was delighted to learn that a creature was still alive. “That is good news,” he enthused. “Of course, I’m delighted. I would like to meet it.”

The expedition to find the echidna was part of the Zoological Society of London’s Edge programme which aims to find, learn about and help to protect some of the world’s most endangered animals. It was led by Dr Jonathan Baillie of the ZSL, who said the discovery that villagers in the Cyclops Mountains of Papua New Guinea were familiar with the echidna was immensely reasuring, even if they did eat them occasionally.

Now it has been established that they are alive, he is planning to return to set up camera traps in the hope of photographing one of the shy, nocturnal animals. He said that the conversations with villagers and the nose impressions in the ground indicated that the species had a much wider range than previously believed.

The original specimen was discovered at 1,600 metres up a mountain but it is now known that the animal can live much lower down, at 160 metres. They are estimated to live in an area of 100 square kilometres.

Tribesmen in the Cyclops Mountains provided scientists with information about the echidnas, for which the local name is Payangko. The animals are well-enough known to have a place in tribal culture. Peace is said to return to villages where families suffer long-standing rivalries if one of the protagonists catches an echidna and shares its meat with a rival.

Attenborough’s longbeaked echidna, Zaglossus attenboroughi, was first found in 1961 and the captured specimen was sent to the National Museum of Natural History in Leiden in the Netherlands for storage.

However, it was only in 1998 when the specimen was analysed by Professor Tim Flannery and Professor Colin Groves that it was realised the animal represented an unrecognised species.

Dr Baillie added: “In addition to Attenborough’s echidna, we found an astonishingly vast array of biodiversity, some of which is highly unlikely to be known to science.”

There are four species of echidna, three longbeaked and one short, which with the platypus are the known only egg-laying mammals. They derive from a primitive group of mammals that split from the mammal family tree 150 million years ago. Attenborough’s longbeaked echidna is one of the three species of longbeaked echidnas in New Guinea. It is about half the size of the others.

In the 1970s, when I was growing up in my village in the PNG highlands, where echidna or anteater is regarded as a delicacy, every individual caught always ended up eaten. I do not know which species it was but sadly it is no longer found around my village. I think all the echidnas are very rare now. The cause? Habitat change (forest clearing for agriculture ) and increased human consumption. The PNG government has done very little or nothing to protect these lovely creatures.

Warea Orapa, Suva, Fiji

Yes there are egg laying mammals they are classified as "Monotremes" the echidna and the platipus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotreme

Tia Marie, Vallejo, CA

I'd eat two.

Malak de los Reyes, Washington, DC

Wikipedia doesn't say the platypus is the only mammal to lay eggs. It says monotremes are the only mammals to lay eggs. Here is what Wikipedia says:

"Together with the four species of echidna, [the platypus] is one of the five species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young."

ned, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Surprisingly the distinguishing characteristic of a mammal is hair (apparently dolphins have a moustache when they are young!) So in answer to Helmet's question - how a creature gives birth to its young has no bearing on it classification as a mammal or otherwise, hence egg laying mammals.

Birds are avian and not mammalian (no hair) and hence in answer to Squid's question - No, birds are not egg laying mammals!

Ringo, London, London

Yup, it is correct - there are three types of mammals:

1) Those that give birth to live young (placental)
2) Live young but kept in a pouch (marsupials)
3) Egg laying (monotremes)

I hope that helps : )

Laura, Haywards Heath, England

Wikipedia doesn't say that, Mikael, at least not on the page for platypus. It includes all the monotremes. Ooh, apparently the monotremes can also sense the electric fields caused by the muscles of their prey, like sharks can. Nifty little beasts.

Felix, Nottingham,

I agree - very ugly

Flavio BRIATORE, LONDON, UK

I have to disagree with Erik. I never would have thought that what looks like the unholy union of a woodpecker and a badger would be so cute.

My question is why did they have to mention that “It was delicious”? It would be a shame for these little guys to become the next Red Rail.

Chris, Duncan, OK, U$A

It´s time people had some zoology lessons at school. Yes, monotremes are mammals that lay eggs!

As for Erik in the Netherlands ("What an ugly little thing"), i think we should get this in perspective. The little creature is really cute to look at. How would you react to cockroaches, Erik?

cerronevado, Malaga, Spain

Are we sure of this one? Yes of course we're sure, it's been an established fact for ages. It did take time for biologists to believe it but in 1884, a meeting of biologists erupted in cheers when a telegram from W. H. Caldwell, a British biologist, told them that a great mystery had been solved: Platypuses lay eggs. Not only that, the news was delivered in Latin.

MONOTREMES OVIPAROUS, OVUM MEROBLASTIC.

(trackback http://nytimes.com/2006/02/12/weekinreview/12word.html?ex=1297400400&en=880efbcdfb77da7e&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss)

John Small, Faversham, UK

I'd eat one.

John Annis, London,

Birds are not considered to be a mammal to start off with...

From wikipedia:

"Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in female mammary glands and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex region in the brain."

Dawn, Wiltshire,

birds have feathers (and wings?), which differentiates them from monotreme mammals.

chaytor, london, uk

What an ugly little thing...

Erik, The Hague, Netherlands

If that boggles you there are reptiles that give birth to live young! :)

Mark, Birmingham, UK

aren't birds egg laying mammals?

squid, tokyo,

It's high time for vegetarianism to resonate throughout the world. We do not have to eat our fellow creatures to survive. Vegetarian Jains in India and vegan Seventh Day Adventists in America live long and healthy lives. Thou Shall Not Kill !

Brien Comerford, Glenview, United States

Yup, there are three types of mammal:

1) Placental - live young eg) humans
2) Marsupial - live young but kept in a pouch eg) kangaroo
3) Monotreme - egg-laying eg) platypus

Some more information below...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotreme

Laura, Haywards Heath, England

Yup, there are three types of mammal:

1) Placental - live young eg) humans
2) Marsupial - live young but kept in a pouch eg) kangaroo
3) Monotreme - egg-laying eg) platypus

Some more information below...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotreme

Laura, Haywards Heath, England

The platypus also lays eggs (although wikipedia claims it's the only mammal to do so)

Mikael, Malmö, Sweden

”mammal that lays eggs,” are you sure of this one?

helmet, Yokosuka, Japan

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