A Pleistocene spiny anteater from Tasmania (Monotremata: Tachyglossidae, Zaglossus)

Abstract

A partially articulated skeleton of a fossil Zaglossus from a cave located nearMontagu, Tasmania, differs sufficiently from Zaglossus bruijni to warrant its assignmentto another species. The Montagu specimen is probably conspecific with "Echidna(Proechidna)" robusta Dun, 1895 which includes the misnomer "Ornithorhynchus maximus"Dun 1895. The Montagu fossil is also conspecific with Zaglossus harrissoni Scott andLord, 1921, from King Island Tasmania. Echidna owenii and Echidna ramsayi are suggestedto be nomina vana because they are represented by undiagnostic fragments. Comparisonof the cranium and certain postcranial elements of the Montagu Zaglossus with Zaglossusbruijni reflect possible differences in feeding behavior between the two species.