Scientific Name

Tachyglossus aculeatus Family Tachyglossidae

Status

Common throughout Australia.

Habitat

Most Australian environments; from open woodlands and closed forests to semi-arid regions of Australia.

Description

One of two surviving monotremes, the other being the platypus.
Monotremes are animals that lay eggs and have a pouch for rearing recently hatched young.

Spines develop after 45 days of hatching, used for protection from predators. Lives in burrows with a main food source of ants and termites sourced from mounds and fallen logs.

References

Groves, Colin. (2005). Mammal Species of the World. 3rd ed. John Hopkins University Press.