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The Echidna belongs to
a group of mammals called Monotremes, of which there are only
two, the other being the Platypus. There are two species of
echidnas, one of which is restricted to the New Guinea
highlands. The short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus),
or spiny ant eaters, are found throughout Australia. Echidnas are dark brown in colour,
although young echidna are lighter, and have hair and long
spines covering their back, with only hair covering their soft
under belly. They have ear openings but no external ears. The
eyes are small and beady. The echidna has a long sensitive tube
like snout, and a long thin tongue with sticky saliva that
thrusts in and out of their small mouth at the end of the snout,
and is the perfect tool for reaching into the ant and termite
nests. |
