Echidnas

A Short-Beaked Echidna.

Echidnas (Tachyglossidae), also known as Spiny Anteaters, are mammals that are currently all critically endangered as of 2022, and a part of the group Monotremes.

Connections

Echidnas are a member of the group Monotremes, as stated above. Monotremes means that the animal is an egg-laying mammal, and there are only 5 living members of the Monotremes group. While you may think they would be somewhat related to Hedgehogs or Porcupines, you are wrong. Echidnas are not a part of their families, and are not rodents, as Hedgehogs aren’t rodents either, although Porcupines are Rodents. The only animal the Echidna is related to is the Platypus, which is also a member of the group Monotremes. And you may also think Echidnas are related to Anteaters due to their “Beak”. Wrong again! They look alike but aren’t a part of the same family. Anteaters are in the family Myrmecophagidae, while Echidnas are in Tachyglossidae. In fact Echidnas don’t even have beaks, as that “Beak” is actually a snout that can sense electrical signals from an insects body.

Biology

When an Echidna reaches maturity, it measures 30 – 35 cm long, with a male weighing around 6 kg while females around 4.5 kg, and is thought to live usually under the age of 10. The Echidna is a solitary animal that is covered in coarse hair and lots of spines, and are usually black or brown as of coloring. There are several sightings of Albino Echidnas, but are quite rare, yet not unseen. Albino Echidnas usually, as you would expect, have white spines and fur, with pink eyes. All Echidnas have an elongated snout, including the short-beaked Echidna, that function as a nose and mouth. As stated, Echidnas have Electro-Receptors, and are equipped with 40,000, while the Short-Beaked Echidna only has 2,000. Echidnas also have large claws, which are long and curved, which makes them great diggers, especially for finding insects. They also have small jaws with no teeth on any side or place, and tear open ant-hills, logs, and related things with its tongue, which is quite sticky. It’s tongue stretches out from its jaw, and sticks to ant hills and related, then eats from there. The Echidnas body temperature is also the second lowest active body temperature out of every Mammal, which is 91 degrees F, and 33 C. You would not expect this, but despite their chubby appearance, they are quite capable swimmers. They usually swim to get across a land mass, or simply groom themselves. When feeling threatened, they will curl up into a round ball similar to the Hedgehog, using the same method of offense and defense.

Diet

An Echidna’s Diet is partially obvious, but to some it wouldn’t be. Both kinds of Echidna have a similar diet, with the Short-Beaked Echidna’s diet consisting mostly on Termites and Ants, while on the other side, the Long-Beaked Echidna’s consists of Worms and Insect Larvae. Although as I said with both of the Echidna’s diets, it consists mostly of what I said. They also can eat Earthworms, Beetles, and Moth Larvae as a part of their Diet. And as mentioned, they use their tongues and Receptors to find these.

Habitat

An Echidna can live in certain conditions, yet can be found in many separate places. Echidna’s do not enjoy or tolerate extreme conditions, and prefer to live in Woodlands and Forests. They usually hide in places such as vegetation, roots, piles of found debris, rocks, hollow logs, or just the all-out landscape. Sometimes even living in Rabbit or Wombat burrows. They also do not like that of rain too much, using caves and/or rocks to shelter themselves from the weather. Places they can be found in include New Guinea, Mainland Australia, Tasmania, King Island, Flinders Islands and Kangaroo Island. They also can burrow underground themselves to, yet again, shelter from the Weather.

Ending

A couple of facts and extra information lie here. Fact 1: Echidnas had first split off of Platypus around 19-18 Million years ago, implying that the Platypus is older than the Echidna. Fact 2: Did you know that Echidnas and many more Animals are a part of the Clade Synapsida? If your wondering what’s so special about that specific Clade, what makes them unique is the fact all animals that are a part of it evolved from Basal Amniotes, which dates all the back to dinosaurs! If you want to learn about them, go to the sources and you can find it there. Fact 3: Did you know that a baby Echidna is called a Puggle? Cute name isn’t it! Final Fact: Did you know that Echidnas, as of 2022, are all critically endangered? While they are protected in Australia, and the loss of Echidna population in other areas they live in, is due to Habitat Loss and Overhunting.

Credits

Thanks to Wikipedia, Population Conservation Status, and the Internet for this information.