The echidna is an egg laying mammal belong to the order
Monotremata and the family Tachyglossidae. The platypus and the echidna are the
only living members of the species with all others being extinct. There are
often referred to as spiny ant eaters but are only distantly related to other
actual ant eaters. Native to Australia
and New Guinea,
the echidna is similar in appearance to a hedgehog or porcupine but with a very
long snout.
Echidnas use their long snouts, which are a combination of
mouth and nose, to forage for food. Living on a diet of mainly termites, ants
and other insects, the echidna are considered insectivores. Short legs with
long clawed feet make echidnas perfect for digging anthills and the ground for
scavenging. They use their long sticky tongues to scoop up their insect prey.
Female echidnas lay eggs rather than birth live offspring.
22 days after copulation, a single egg is laid. The egg has a soft outer shell
with a leather like texture. Ten days later, the egg hatches and a baby echidna
known as a puggle is born. Puggles live in their mother's pouches for
approximately six weeks and fed from the milk pores in the pouch. The baby
stays in a burrow dug by the mother for seven months until completely weaned.