|
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Monotremata
Family: Tachyglossidae
Genus Tachyglossus
Species: Tachyglossus aculeatus
Echidnas (Tachyglossus
aculeatus), or spiny ant eaters as they are sometimes known,
are familiar to most Australians. Echidnas are monotremes (mammals
that lay eggs). There are only three species of monotreme in
the world -- the platypus and two species of echidna, one of
which is restricted to the New Guinea highlands. They have many
features which are reptilian in nature such as egg laying, legs
that extend outward then downward, and a lower body temperature
(about 31-32 0C) than other mammals.
The Echidna
is common throughout most of temperate Australia and lowland
New Guinea. In Tasmania, it is particularly common in dry open
country on the east coast. It is also found on open heathlands
and in forests and can sometimes be seen slowly wandering along
roadsides in its characteristic rolling gait.
It is recognized
by a covering of spines and a tubular snout which accommodates
a long, mobile tongue used to lap up ants. It feeds mostly on
ants, which is exposes from their nest with powerfully clawed
forelimbs.
The spiny coat
provides an excellent defence. When disturbed, the Echidna curls
into a ball of radiating spines. If on soil, it may dig itself
below the surface with surprising speed, while remaining horizontal.
Mating occurs
in July and August and the single egg is incubated for about
10 days in a pouch on the mother's abdomen. The young is suckled
for at least three months, first in the mother's pouch and later
in a burrow where it is left while the mother is foraging. The
juvenile follows the mother after weaning and does not attain
adulthood until the age of about 12 months.
The echidna
is adapted for very rapid digging, having short limbs and powerful
claws. The claws on the hind feet are elongated and curve backwards;
to enable cleaning and grooming between the spines. However,
despite this, they are infested with what is said to be the world's
largest flea -- Bradiopsylla echidnae -- which is about
4 mm long.
Surprisingly,
echidnas are good swimmers, paddling about with only the snout
and a few spines showing. They have been seen to cross wide beaches
to swim and groom themselves in the sea.
Male echidnas,
like their relative the platypus , have a spur on each hindfoot.
However, unlike the platypus the spur is blunt and the
venom gland is not functional.
The solitary-living echidna is common and quite widespread. They
are less affected by the clearing of land as much as many other
native animals as they can live anywhere that there is a supply
of ants.
Despite their
covering of spines, though, they do have natural predators such
as eagles and Tasmanian devils which even eat the spines. They
were a favourite food of Aboriginal people and early white settlers
although they are now wholly protected by law.
References:
Australian
Wildlife - Echidna http://www.australianwildlife.com.au/features/echidna.htm
Echidna - Tachyglossus
aculeatus - www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/ pdf_files/sp_echidna.pdf
Echidna (Tachyglossus
aculeatus) - http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-5357K5?open
Ronald Strahan,
A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Australia, The Australian
Museum and New Holland Publishers, 1995
Tachyglossus
aculeatus - Short-Nosed Echidna - http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Tachyglossus/t._aculeatus.html
|
