Echidna

Animals Unique | Echidna | Echidnas are known as spiny anteaters better, although They are not related to them, besides That fact That both anteaters and echidnas eat ants and Termites. The echidna is found in parts of New Guinea and Australia.

 

The echidna has a long tongue around 18cm long That can whip in and out of its mouth at incredible speeds. This helps the echidna to forage for ants an Termites.

The echidna was named after a monster in Greek mythology! The echidna can dig incredibly well due to its long claws, meaning That echidna are Able to escape danger by digging straight down.

 

The echidna is a small mammal and the echidna has a long snout That acts as both the mouth and nose of the echidna. The echidna has no teeth and the echidna feeds by soft tearing apart logs and then using its long, sticky tongue to feed on the ants and Termites That Inhabit the log.

 

The echidna is a very special mammal and, along with the platypus, the echidna is the only other egg-laying mammal in the world. The echidna lays eggs That have a soft shell and are kept in the pouch of the female until the eggs hatch echidna in a couple of weeks. The young echidna Remains in the pouch of the female echidna for around 50 weeks, when the baby has grown echidna spikes. The mother then transfers the young echidna echidna to a nursery Burrow and returns every few days to feed the baby until it is around seven months old.

 

Echidna Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: mammals
Order: Monotremata
Family: Tachyglossidae
Genus: Tachyglossus
Scientific Name: Tachyglossus aculeatus
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Size (L): 35cm - 52cm (14in - 20in)
Weight: 4kg - 7kg (9lbs - 15lbs)
Top Speed: 30km / h (18mph)
Life Span: 15-40 years
Lifestyle: Solitary
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Colour: Brown, Black, White
Skin Type: spiky
Favourite Food: Ants
Habitat: Cool and dry forests
Average Litter Size: 1
Main Prey: Ants, Termites, Insects
Predators: Human, Eagle, Dingos
Distinctive Features: Long snout and curved claws and spikes