Echidna
The Echidna is a monotreme, which means that it is a mammal that lays eggs. It's scientific name (Tachyglossus aculeatus) means 'spiny fast-tongue'.
The average length for a full-grown echidna is 30 – 45 cms. And the weight for an average fully grown male is about five and a half kilograms and the average fully grown female is about four kilograms. It is covered in spines, has a long snout and walks low to the ground.
The Echidna, also known as the spiny anteater, eats ants and sometimes-even termites. They only eat termites if no ants are available, but by eating these insects they also swallow a large amount of earth. That is why it is so easy to tell them apart from other animals because they have an amount of dirt and indigestible insect remains in their droppings.
No one is absolutely sure how the egg enters the pouch but is thought to be laid straight into the pouch. The joey stays in the pouch until it starts developing spines. It suckles the milk in the pouch and as the joey develops it still suckles while in the burrow. The joey stops suckling when it is ready to eat ants and termites and by then it has its spines.
The echidna is an extremely good burrower thanks to their claws, which they use to dig out ants and termites. When the echidna is surprised, scared or frightened it burrows or lodges itself between rocks and then nothing can dislodge it because of its shape. They can also curl up into a spiky ball where no one would want to touch them because their spines stick right out.
As this map shows the Echidna lives all over Australia.
Interesting Facts
- A young echidna is a Joey, because the echidna is also a marsupial
- A young echidna is also sometimes called a 'puggle'.
- The spines are hardened dry fur
- Droppings contain dirt
- Active at nights
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