Wildlife

Egg-laying mammal
The echidna is one of only two monotremes – mammals that lay eggs – in the world. The other is also a Tasmanian native, the platypus.

Echidnas are common in the dry open country of Tasmania’s east coast. They are also found in open heathlands and forests and can sometimes be seen slowly wandering along roadsides with their characteristic rolling gait.

If disturbed, echidnas will lower their head and with vigorous digging sink rapidly into the ground, leaving only the spines exposed. On hard surfaces they will curl into a ball.

Diet of ants and termites
Echidnas have poor vision, but a good sense of hearing and smell. They are toothless, preferring a diet of ants, termites and other small invertebrates that they catch with a long sticky tongue.

The cream-coloured spines, which reach 50 millimetres in length, are in fact modified hairs and cover the entire body apart from the underside, face and legs. Insulation is provided by fur between the spines. Males have a venomous spur on their hind legs.

Usually one egg is laid at a time and carried in the pouch for 10-12 days. Young are fed with milk secreted from areas of skin inside the pouch. When their spines develop after two months, the young are left in a concealed nest during the day.

Read more about the Echidna