Beta
Echidna
Echidnas have spiky coats made of sharp quills that protect them from predators. They use their long, sticky tongues to catch ants and termites, their favorite food. Despite their spiky appearance, echidnas are gentle and solitary creatures, often found digging in the soil or leaf litter.
Echidna
Spiny anteater
Tachyglossidae
Tachyglossidae
These spiky little wonders are, yes, spiky. The echidna is a monotreme, meaning a mammal that lays eggs. It is one of the only two monotremes in the world. The other one is platypus.
Image: Dan Broun
35-52 cm
They have dark and light brown needles all over their back. They have a long black nose and inky eyes.
Did you know echidnas like to shelter under bushes or burrow into the ground?
Echidnas thrive in a range of different environments, including forests, woodlands, grasslands, deserts and mountainous regions.
They mainly feed on ants and termites.
Almost a month after mating the female echidna deposits a single egg into her pouch. After ten days the baby echidna (puggle) hatches.
Echidnas are native to Australia and New Guinea. They are considered Australia's most widespread mammal as they can be found almost all over the country, including in Tasmania.
Some threats include feral dogs and foxes, as well as habitat loss due to deforestation.
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