Echnidna

Echidnas (family Tachyglossidae), also called spiny anteaters, are egg-laying mammals (monotremes) native to Australia (including Tasmania) and New Guinea; together with the platypus, they are the only living mammals that lay eggs. There are four living echidna species: the short‑beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and three long‑beaked echidnas (genus Zaglossus). Echidnas have a narrow snout with a tiny mouth and a long, sticky tongue for feeding on invertebrates (commonly ants and termites, sometimes earthworms), plus strong claws for digging into soil and termite mounds; the snout is also described as sensitive to weak electrical signals from prey. Females typically lay one leathery egg into a temporary pouch, where it hatches; the baby (“puggle”) drinks milk secreted onto the skin because monotremes lack nipples, and it stays in the pouch until spines begin to appear. For defense, echidnas often dig straight down until only spines are exposed or curl into a tight, spiky ball.