| What has the beak of a bird, the spines of a | | | | located on her belly, the female waits until ten days |
| hedgehog, the gait of a reptile, the pouch of a | | | | later when the egg hatches and a tiny, embryonic |
| marsupial, and the lifespan of an elephant? If you | | | | puggle emerges. The mother produces milk, as do all |
| answered an echidna, you are correct! Echidnas may | | | | other mammals, but she has no nipples. Instead, the |
| not be the most famous creatures on this planet, but | | | | puggle suckles milk from the pores of two milk |
| fossils dating back to 100 million years ago prove that | | | | patches in her pouch. By 45-55 days old the puggle |
| they've been around a long time. Elusive and | | | | will have begun developing spines, and the mother |
| enigmatic, these "spiny anteaters" have bewildered | | | | (understandably) expels it from her pouch. She will |
| scientists and wildlife enthusiasts for centuries. | | | | have dug a nursery burrow in preparation, and here |
| Echidnas make virtually no noise, follow no observable | | | | the puggle will remain for another six months, suckling |
| routines, and lack permanent dens, making it almost | | | | when its mother returns to the burrow, about every |
| impossible to track and study them. They also travel | | | | five days. |
| great distances; some cover home territories of 250 | | | | By the time the young echidna leaves its burrow it |
| acres or more! Native to New Guinea and Australia, | | | | will be prepared for the rigors of survival. At |
| echidnas weren't even identified in the western world | | | | approximately the same size and weight of a human |
| until 1792, when the first detailed description was | | | | newborn, the adult echidna has a narrow, elongated |
| published in England. Still, it took hundreds of years of | | | | snout and short, strong limbs. Its legs protrude from |
| technological advancements before any close study | | | | the sides of its body, rather than underneath, giving |
| of the echidna was possible. | | | | the echidna its reptile-like gait. Echidnas have large, |
| At first glance, an observer might classify echidnas in | | | | backward-pointing claws which they use for digging. |
| the same family with hedgehogs. Australians have | | | | The most important equipment for survival is their |
| nicknamed them "porkies," after their resemblance to | | | | long, sticky tongues. Echidnas are toothless, and use |
| the porcupine. Their likeness to these mammals, | | | | their tongues to slurp up ants, termites, worms, and |
| however, is only skin deep. While echidnas are | | | | insect larvae. Their Latin name Tachyglossus |
| probably best known for their spiny backs, these | | | | acculeatus means "fast-tongued and spiny." |
| spines are uniquely different from porcupine quills. | | | | Echidnas live relatively peaceful, long lives. They have |
| Although echidnas can move their spines (and they | | | | no native predator, although one species of large |
| do, especially in mating rituals and when protecting | | | | monitor lizards eat the spineless puggles. Non-native |
| themselves), the spines cannot be easily removed | | | | predators, including feral cats and pigs, dogs, dingoes, |
| from their backs, like quills are. Echidna spines are | | | | and foxes, will attack echidnas. Under attack, the |
| extremely strong, and have been known to puncture | | | | echidna will roll itself into a spiny ball until the danger |
| tires! They are actually modified hairs that have a | | | | has passed. Vehicles pose the biggest threat to |
| long root extending into a special layer of muscle. | | | | echidnas, which move slowly and are often seen |
| If echidnas have little in common with hedgehogs and | | | | disposed at the side of the roads. A second threat |
| porcupines, they have much in common with their | | | | to echidnas is overheating. Echidnas have no sweat |
| close relative, the platypus. These two species are | | | | pores, and do not pant. They must therefore |
| the only known surviving monotremes in the world. | | | | maintain a very low body temperature. It was even |
| Monotreme, literally translated, means "single | | | | disputed at one time whether echidnas were even |
| opening," referring to the fact that these mammals | | | | warm-blooded mammals or not, given how low their |
| have only one opening. Whereas other mammals | | | | internal temperature was. Escaping these dangers, |
| have three openings, monotremes have one cloaca, | | | | echidnas can live fifty years or more. |
| which is used in the urinary, defecatory, and | | | | Scientists have not been able to determine the |
| reproductive systems. In addition, monotremes are | | | | number of echidnas in existence in the world, and |
| the only mammals who lay eggs, rather than give live | | | | have officially listed them as a protected species. It |
| birth. | | | | may take time, but hopefully technology will continue |
| Females produce a single, soft-shelled egg 22 days | | | | to aid us in the understanding of this primitive, |
| after mating. Placing the dime-sized egg in her pouch, | | | | perplexing creature. |