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