The echidna, a unique monotreme native to Australia and Papua New Guinea, has several fascinating characteristics. These spiny mammals are known for their remarkable strength, capable of carrying twice their own body weight.
An echidna cannot swallow the skeleton of their prey.
Type of Animal
The echidna is a type of monotreme. A monotreme is an animal
Facts
1. An echidna's spike is formed from a single hair
There are lots of predators to the echidna
If an echidna is being threatened it will either roll into a ball or stick its head into the dirt.
Species
Short-Beaked Echidna: The short-beaked echidna is found all over Australia.
Long-Beaked Echidna: There are lots of types species of the long-beaked echidna. Most of them are extinct. Scientists say that some species lived 10 000 years ago.
Where Are Echidnas Found?
Echidnas are found all around Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Mating
Mating happens on June and September, annually.
This is how it works: Eight males follow a female around for up to four weeks. The males push each other around, and the last one standing gets the female.
Humans have changed the way animals have lived their lives, including the echidna.
Echidnas have adapted to the world by starting to lay soft-shelled eggs. Echidnas started to lay these type of eggs because the air was killing the baby echidna.
