The Echidna
Echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) are amazing creatures that might be described as a mix between a hedgehog and an anteater. These spiny mammals live in Australia and New Guinea. Their quills are made of keratin, the same stuff as your hair and nails, and these help protect them from predators.
Echidnas have an acute sense of smell. They use their long, pointy snouts to sniff out food, and their sticky tongues (which can be as long as 15 cm!) help them scoop up insects such as their favoured ants and termites. Echidnas have no teeth, so instead grind their food between the tongue and roof of their mouth.The front feet of the Echidna have five flattened claws, designed to dig burrows and tear open logs and termite mounds. Their hind feet point backwards enabling the soil to be pushed away when burrowing. Echidnas dig with all four legs, and can bury themselves almost completely in seconds if they feel threatened.
Echidnas belong to a very ancient group of mammals called monotremes, which means they lay eggs even though they're mammals. After the baby, called a "puggle," hatches, it stays safe in its mother’s pouch until it grows spines.
Did you know?
The spines on the backs of Echidnas are modified hairs that vary in colour from cream to black and can reach up to 50 mm in length.
They can live up to 50 years in the wild.
Echidnas are excellent swimmers and can use their snouts like snorkels.
They have the lowest body temperature of any mammal, around 32°C.