Echidna

ECHIDNA

GENERAL
The Echidna found in Australia is the Short-beaked Echidna and along with the Platypus are the only members of the monotreme family which are Mammals that lay eggs and produces milk for its young.
Echidnas (pronounced "E-kid-na") sometimes referred to as Spiny Anteaters resemble the Hedgehog and the Porcupine in that they are covered by sharp spines. The Echidna is found all over Australia and can survive a range of temperatures and habitats Though mostly nocturnal, in mild weather they can be seen during the day, but if the weather is extreme (either very cold or hot) Echidnas will stay in shelter. (under rocks, fallen timber or burying themselves in the ground)

DESCRIPTION
An Echidnas body is covered with 2 types of hair. A "normal" short coarse hair to keep them warm and long sharp spines each being a single hair but hard(similar to our fingernails in composition) The colouring and length of their "normal" hair differs wildly across Australia depending on climate and habitat)
In size Echidnas are between 35 - 45 cms long and weigh anything between 2-7 kg.

The Echidna has a pointy snout and an extremely long sticky tongue to catch ants and termites
The Echidnas feet have sharp claws for digging and though like the Platypus the male has a spur on its ankle, it is not poisonous They make a sniffing noise as they search for food

HABITAT & LOCATION
The Echidnas main requirement is a large supply of ants and termites so Echidnas are found all over Australia from the highlands to deserts to forests The Echidna has no fixed home except when the female is suckling its young. Echidnas can be found in a variety of shelters from rocks to fallen wood, small caves, or even under bushes

DEFENCE
There is normally 3 options open to an Echidna when it feels threatened
1) Run away on its short stubby legs if on a hard surface such as a road or rocks
2) Curl itself into a ball protecting its softer underbelly, and only showing sharp spines to its threat (see pic on left)
3) Burrows down below the surface of the soil showing only its spines along its back, and holding on below the surface with its claws thus resisting being pulled out of the ground

FEEDING
Normally the Echidna feeds at night on ants or termites,
The tip of its snout or nose is sensitive to electrical signals from an insect body thus it searches and "sniffs" out ant and termite nests. Echidnas then normally tears into the mound or nest with its sharp claws (front feet) and its snout exposing the ants or termites and then catching them with its fast flicking sticky tongue. Because they have no teeth the Echidna crushes the insects between horny pads in its mouth

BREEDING
The female Echidna develops a pouch at the start of the mating season which occurs in July and August.
3 weeks or so after matting the female digs a burrow and lays 1 soft leathery like egg into this pouch.
It takes 10 days for an Echidna egg to hatch
The young blind hairless Echidna attaches itself to a milk patch on its mothers skin inside the pouch and suckles for the next 8 to 12 weeks
Once spines develop on the young Echidna is "evicted"
from the pouch but stays in the burrow.
The female Echidna comes back and regularly lets the young Echidna suckle. This occurs for the next 6 months

(Baby Echidnas are called a "puggle")
THREATS
Man especially the motor car kills hundreds every year on our roads Goannas eat young Echidnas
Dingoes, foxes as well as feral cats and dogs are also responsible for deaths
Lastly as with most Australian animals
Bushfires and Droughts are a natural enemy.