Short-beaked Echidna
Tachyglossus aculeatus
Mammalia
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 30-45 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Insectivore
- Activity
- Crepuscular
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Temperate forest
- Range
- Australia
- Movement
- Walking
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Spines
- Status
- Common
About
The short-beaked echidna is one of only five living monotremes — egg-laying mammals — covered in sharp spines and coarse fur. It locates prey entirely by sensing electrical signals with its leathery snout, then snares ants and termites with a sticky tongue that flicks up to 100 times per minute.
Life cycle
- 1.newbornA live-born newborn nurses on its mother's milk and depends on her for warmth and protection.
- 2.juvenileA weaned juvenile begins eating solid food and learning from its parents or group.
- 3.adultFully grown at adult size.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Monotremata
- Family
- Tachyglossidae
- Genus
- Tachyglossus
- Species
- Tachyglossus aculeatus