Echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, are medium-sized mammals with hard, spiny hair or quills on their body. Although they resemble hedgehogs (family Erinaceidae) and porcupines (families Hystricidae and Erethizontidae) in appearance, echidnas constitute a separate family, Tachyglossidae. Along with the platypus, they fall under the order Monotremata, which comprises egg-laying mammals (monotremes).
These animals are endemic to Australia and New Guinea, where they are found in a range of terrestrial habitats, including deserts, scrublands, and montane forests. They are typically solitary and feed on insects, like ants and termites, along with worms.
Currently, there are 4 species of echidnas grouped under two genera: Tachyglossus and Zaglossus. While the first genus is monotypic, with a single species, the short-beaked or short-nosed echidna, the latter has 3 species, namely the Eastern, Western, and Sir David’s long-beaked echidna.
They typically range in size from 14 to 30 in (35.5 to 76.2 cm) in length. The smallest species, the short-beaked echidna, measures between 12 and 18 in (30 to 45 cm) long. In contrast, the three species of long-beaked echidnas are larger, typically reaching around 24 in (60 cm), with one recorded individual measuring an impressive 39 in (100 cm).
Females weigh approximately 9.9 lb (4.5 kg), while males are about 33% larger in size, averaging 13 lb (6 kg).
Echidnas have medium-sized bodies covered by hollow, barbless quills or spines. These keratinized spines are beige-and-black in color and measure about 2 in (5 cm). A layer of black or brown fur also covers the body of these animals, although it mostly remains hidden under the spiny coat.
They have small faces with elongated, slender snouts, often referred to as beaks, which serve as both their mouths and noses. Their eyes are small and beady, their jaws are toothless, and their ears appear as simple slits on the sides of their heads.
Like platypus, echidnas have numerous sensory electroreceptors on their snout. The short-beaked echidna bears about 400 receptors, while the large-beaked echidnas have as many as 2,000 of them on the tip.
Echidnas have short yet strong limbs that are well-adapted for digging through soil. Their hindlimbs are equipped with long claws that curve backward, and in males, the hind feet have non-venomous spurs.
Male echidnas possess a characteristic four-headed penis, which remains retracted inside a preputial sac (found in the cloaca) when not in use. The penis is about 7 cm (2.8 in) long when erect and contains penile spines that help induce ovulation in females.
Females have a two-branched reproductive tract with two functional ovaries, oviducts, and uteri. Both sexes, however, have a single identical cloaca that serves as the common opening for excretion and mating.
These animals derive their name from Echidna, a Greek mythological monster who was partly woman and partly snake. Such a taxonomy seems apt for echidnas since these animals have qualities of both mammals and reptiles.
The four species of echidnas are grouped under two extant genera: Tachyglossus and Zaglossus.
The three species of long-beaked echidnas are endemic to New Guinea, whereas the short-beaked echidna is specifically found in the southern, southeastern, and northeastern regions of New Guinea as well as in mainland Australia.
Echidnas are typically found in woodlands and forests, where they hide under vegetation, rock crevices, or debris to avoid harsh climates. They also take shelter in burrows built by other animals, like rabbits and wombats.
While the long-beaked echidnas are mostly found living in leaf litter on the forest floor, their short-beaked counterparts are found in almost all habitats in Australia, ranging from the snow-covered Australian Alps to the deserts of the Outback. The latter prefer living in areas with abundant termite and ant colonies.
The short-beaked echidna typically feeds on ants and termites, whereas the long-beaked animals prefer eating worms and insects, along with their larvae.
Like all young mammals, echidnas initially feed on their mother’s milk.
Echidnas are primarily solitary and maintain large, mutually overlapping territories. They congregate only during the breeding season.
These animals are active both during the day and in the evening, depending on the season and availability of resources. Though terrestrial, they are excellent swimmers and often visit water bodies for bathing.
Echidnas use the sensitive electrosensors in their snouts to locate their prey. Using their claws, they break open anthills and soft logs, then slurp up insects or worms with their long, sticky tongues. Since they lack teeth, they grind their food against the bottom of their mouths using their tongues.
Apart from fleeing out of danger, echidnas may engage in other defensive strategies to save themselves. They can curl up tightly, similar to hedgehogs, tucking in their faces and feet while exposing their spines to deter predators. Additionally, they use the curved claws on their hind limbs to dig into the soil, anchoring themselves and escaping their enemies.
They have an average lifespan of about 14 to 16 years, although in captivity, they can live longer, surviving up to 58 years.
The breeding season of echidnas typically begins in late June and extends through September. During this period, the males form a queue or train of up to 10 individuals standing nose to tail, starting from the oldest to the youngest. This train continues to follow the female till she is ready to mate.
Once receptive, the female lays flat on her stomach while the pursuing males dig a circular trench around her. The largest male outcompetes all rival males and lies where the female rests, placing his tail under her body to mate.
After a gestation period of about 22 days, the female lays a single soft-shelled, leathery egg that is about 0.55 in (1.4 cm) long and weighs around 0.05 to 0.07 oz (1.5 to 2 gm). The egg is deposited directly into a temporary pouch in which the young is carried throughout its developmental phase.
About 10 days later, the fetus-like young echidna (also called a puggle) hatches by using its pointed egg tooth and a fleshy bulb called the caruncle to break through the leathery shell. The puggle latches onto the pores of the milk patches on the mother’s body and suckles on them. It remains in the pouch for about 45 to 55 days, during which it slowly starts to develop the spines.
After some time, the mother digs a nursery burrow and transfers the young to it, returning every 5 days to feed the young. At around 7 months, the puggle is weaned, though it continues to stay within its mother’s den for about a year, after which it ventures into the outside world independently.
Their natural predators include foxes, goannas, feral cats, and domestic dogs. Young echidnas are particularly susceptible to attacks by snakes, which slither into their burrows.
Of the four species, only the short-beaked echidna belongs to the Least Concern (LC) category of the IUCN Red List. The other three are listed under the following categories.
| Species | IUCN Category |
|---|---|
| Sir David’s Long-Beaked Echidna & Western Long-Beaked Echidna | Critically Endangered (CR) |
| Eastern Long-Beaked Echidna | Vulnerable (VU) |
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