LONG-BEAKED ECHIDNA
DESCRIPTION
Zaglossus robustus is an extinct species of long beaked echidna. It is known from the middle Miocene which is approximately 13 to 14 million years ago and is known from Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia (Musser, 2003). This species may belong in the genus Megalibgwilia. This species is known from a fossil skull about 65 cm long. It had many spikes along its back to protect it from its predators and used them as a weapon.
Source: Comparative brain anatomy
DISCOVERY
Fossil records for echidnas are scarce. The first tachyglosssid fossil, a long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus robusta = Megalibgwilia), found in a gold mine at Gulgong, New South Wales in 1895 was about 15 million years old.
Source: Encyclopedia.com
