Short-beaked Echidna

SPECIES Short-beaked Echidna
TAXONOMY Tachyglossus aculeatus
STATUS Least Concern (Redlist.org); Least Concern (ala.org.au);

The Short-beaked Echidna is an Australian native belonging to a very special and unique group of mammals referred to as monotremes. Similar to the Platypus, it is egg laying however it has a similarity to marsupials in that it has a form of a pouch. It has a wide distribution throughout the mainland, Tasmania, and New Guinea. It occupies a diverse habitat range from rainforests, dry deserts, and alpine regions. It has disappeared in areas where human encroachment persists.

Often referred to as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, it has a long snout perfectly suited to inserting into nests and uses its long sticky tongue to gather hundreds of insects. Although it lacks teeth, it has a specially designed tongue that is covered with horny serrations that act as a grinding tool to consume its prey. It also ingests large amounts of dirt that help aid digestion.

In the winter, the Echidna drops their body temperature, breathing, and metabolic rate and enters a phase of voluntary torpor (unlike hibernation) which is directly related to harsh conditions and is the animal’s way of surviving extreme conditions. They live off of their fat stores and will stir long enough to drink or expel waste, and then gradually awaken as the temperature increases in their environment. 

During warmer months, they tend to be nocturnal to avoid the heat if needed. Their diet can consist of a variety of insects, and they can be found sheltering in rotten logs, tree stumps, caves, or burrows. They are known to live up to 50 years in the wild and in captivity.

Appearance
The Short-beaked Echidna is recognised by its sharp spines, short legs, and long snout. It has powerful digging claws that are used to tear open insect nests and mounds. They are differentiated from the Long-beaked Echidna because they are smaller and have longer hair. Being from 30 to 55 cm in length and weighing up to 7 kgs, it has coarse reddish-brown or black fur interspersed with yellowish spines and a short spiny tail. Females are usually lighter. The male has a spur on its hind foot, which is similar to the male platypus however it is not venomous like that of the platypus. However, it has been specially adapted and elongated for scratching between its spines.

Reproduction
Echidnas are solitary creatures and only convene to mate. After mating, a single leathery-skinned egg is laid into a pouch on the female’s abdomen and incubated for 10 days. When hatched, the blind and hairless baby echidna (known as a puggle) attaches itself and will remain in the pouch for up to 50 days. Once it develops spines, the mother will remove it from her pouch and build a burrow for it. It will remain dependent for up to 6 months.

Clinging to hairs inside the mother's pouch, the young echidna suckles for two or three months. Once it develops spines and becomes too prickly, the mother removes it from her pouch and builds a burrow for it. It will continue to suckle for the next six months until weaned, at which time they are fully independent.

Threats
The Echidna has a certain amount of protection from predators afforded by the spiny quills that it carries. If it cannot escape by digging into the soil, it will curl into a spiky ball or use its spines to wedge itself into a hole or crevice and present its back to the attacker. 

It does, like many native species, suffer from habitat loss and human encroachment. Many suffer from road mortality, and predation from domestic animals and introduced species such as foxes. They also suffer from the impacts of wildfires as well as droughts. 

Updated 5 May 2021