Lactating on Eggs
Short-nosed Echidna
(Tachyglossus aculeatus)
There are three living species of monotremes—egg-laying mammals—short-nosed and long-nosed echidnas, and duck-billed platypus. All are native to Australia and surrounding islands.
Home Range
Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, and other islands in the region
Habitat
Forests, hilly areas, sandy plains, and rocky areas
Diet
Echidnas lack teeth. They use their sticky tongue to catch ants and termites.
Reproduction
After a short gestation, from nine to 27 days, an egg is deposited into a pouch. After a brief incubation of about ten days, the egg hatches and the young stays in the pouch to suckle for several weeks. In the first two weeks of life, the young increases its weight a hundredfold (from one-third of a gram to 30 grams). After seven or eight weeks, it starts growing spines, which are modified hairs, and the mother ejects it from the pouch. She leaves it in a burrow and returns every few days for feedings. It is weaned after a few months, and then begins foraging on its own.
Social Structure
Solitary except during the breeding season
Status
While long-nosed echidnas are endangered, their short-nosed cousins are not. They have few native predators, however dogs, foxes, feral cats, and other animals do prey on them. Habitat loss and fast-moving cars are their greatest threat.
Fun Facts
Tachyglossus, the short-nosed echidna's genus, is Latin for "quick tongue."
Short-nosed echidnas have been known to live for more than 50 years.
Monotremes' average temperature is several degrees lower than that of most other mammals.
Although echidnas are also known as spiny anteaters, they are a completely separate order of mammals. Anteaters, sloths, and armadillos belong to the order Xenarthra, and all are found in the New World. Additionally, echidnas may resemble hedgehogs and porcupines because of their spines, they are not related. Hedgehogs are in the order Insectivora, and porcupines are rodents.
Please note: There are no echidnas at the Zoo.
