Difference between revisions of "Echidna" - New World Encyclopedia
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| name = Echidnas<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=p. 1-2|id=10300002}}</ref> | | name = Echidnas<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=p. 1-2|id=10300002}}</ref> | ||
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[[Image:Echidna, Exmouth.jpg|thumb|250px|A [[Short-beaked Echidna]] curled into a ball; the snout is visible on the right.]] | [[Image:Echidna, Exmouth.jpg|thumb|250px|A [[Short-beaked Echidna]] curled into a ball; the snout is visible on the right.]] | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Echidna''' ({{pronEng|ɨˈkɪdnə}}), also known as '''spiny anteater''', is any of the egg-laying [[mammal]]s comprising the '''Tachyglossidae''' [[Family (biology)|family]] of the order Monotremata order ([[monotreme]]s), characterized by a stocky built, spiny coat, short legs with strongly clawed feet, rudimentary tail, and toothless jaw with a long and sticky tongue. There are four extant species and together with the [[platypus]], they are the only surviving monotremes. |
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| + | Although their diet consists largely of ants and termites, they are not actually related to the [[anteater]] species. They live in [[New Guinea]] and [[Australia]] (including the island of Tasmania). | ||
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
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Male echidnas have a four-headed [[penis]], but only two of the heads are used during mating. The other two heads "shut down" and do not grow in size. The heads used are swapped each time the mammal has sex.<ref>{{cite web | author = Shultz, N. | date = [[2007-10-26]] | url = http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12838 | title = Exhibitionist spiny anteater reveals bizarre penis | work = [[New Scientist]] [http://www.newscientist.com/home.ns website] | accessdate = 2006-10-27}}</ref> | Male echidnas have a four-headed [[penis]], but only two of the heads are used during mating. The other two heads "shut down" and do not grow in size. The heads used are swapped each time the mammal has sex.<ref>{{cite web | author = Shultz, N. | date = [[2007-10-26]] | url = http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12838 | title = Exhibitionist spiny anteater reveals bizarre penis | work = [[New Scientist]] [http://www.newscientist.com/home.ns website] | accessdate = 2006-10-27}}</ref> | ||
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| + | The echidnas are named after a [[Echidna (mythology)|monster in ancient Greek mythology]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
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* Parker, J., "[http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/June2000/default.htm Echidna Love Trains]", "Scribbly Gum" online magazine. | * Parker, J., "[http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/June2000/default.htm Echidna Love Trains]", "Scribbly Gum" online magazine. | ||
* Rismiller, P., "[http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp2.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=1147621 Echidnas and Goannas of Kangaroo Island]", [[Earthwatch|Earthwatch Institute]]. | * Rismiller, P., "[http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp2.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=1147621 Echidnas and Goannas of Kangaroo Island]", [[Earthwatch|Earthwatch Institute]]. | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 20:01, 9 May 2008
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 Western Long-beaked Echidna
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Genus Tachyglossus |
Echidna (pronounced /ɨˈkɪdnə/), also known as spiny anteater, is any of the egg-laying mammals comprising the Tachyglossidae family of the order Monotremata order (monotremes), characterized by a stocky built, spiny coat, short legs with strongly clawed feet, rudimentary tail, and toothless jaw with a long and sticky tongue. There are four extant species and together with the platypus, they are the only surviving monotremes.
Although their diet consists largely of ants and termites, they are not actually related to the anteater species. They live in New Guinea and Australia (including the island of Tasmania).
Description
Echidnas are small mammals that are covered with coarse hair and spines. Superficially they resemble the anteaters of South America, and other spiny mammals like hedgehogs and porcupines. They have snouts which have the functions of both the mouth and nose. Their snouts are elongated and slender. They have very short, strong limbs with large claws and are powerful diggers. Echidnas have a tiny mouth and a toothless jaw. They feed by tearing open soft logs, anthills and the like, and use their long, sticky tongue which protrudes from their snout to collect their prey. The Short-beaked Echidna's diet consists largely of ants and termites, while the Zaglossus species typically eat worms and insect larvae.
The long-nosed echidna has tiny spines on its tongue that helps capture its meals.
The echidna, along with the Platypus, are the only egg-laying mammals, known as monotremes. The female lays a single soft-shelled, leathery egg twenty-two days after mating and deposits it directly into her pouch. Hatching takes ten days; the young echidna, called a puggle, then sucks milk from the pores of the two milk patches (monotremes have no nipples) and remains in the pouch for forty-five to fifty-five days, at which time it starts to develop spines. The mother digs a nursery burrow and deposits the puggle, returning every five days to suckle it until it is weaned at seven months.
Male echidnas have a four-headed penis, but only two of the heads are used during mating. The other two heads "shut down" and do not grow in size. The heads used are swapped each time the mammal has sex.[2]
The echidnas are named after a monster in ancient Greek mythology.
Taxonomy
Echidnas are classified into three genera. The Zaglossus genus includes three extant species and two species known only from fossils, while only one species from the genus Tachyglossus is known. The third genus, Megalibgwilia, is only known from fossils.
Zaglossus
The three living Zaglossus species are endemic to New Guinea. They are rare and are hunted for food. They forage in leaf litter on the forest floor, eating earthworms and insects. The species are:
- the Western Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruijni) of the highland forests
- Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), recently discovered, prefers a still higher habitat
- the Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni), of which four distinct subspecies have been identified
The two fossil species are:
- Zaglossus robustus
- Zaglossus hacketti
Tachyglossus
The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is found in southeast New Guinea and also occurs in almost all Australian environments, from the snow-clad Australian Alps to the deep deserts of the Outback, essentially anywhere that ants and termites are available. Its size is smaller than the Zaglossus species, and it has longer hair.
Megalibgwilia
The genus Megalibgwilia is only known from fossils:
- Megalibgwilia ramsayi known from Late Pleistocene sites in Australia
- Megalibgwilia robusta known from Miocene sites in Australia
Media
Echidnas in popular culture
- The Sonic the Hedgehog series has an anthropomorphic echidna named Knuckles
See also
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ C. Groves, "Order Primates," "Order Monotremata," (and select other orders). Page(s) p. 1-2 in D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder, eds., Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press (2005). ISBN 0801882214.
- ↑ Shultz, N. (2007-10-26). Exhibitionist spiny anteater reveals bizarre penis. New Scientist website. Retrieved 2006-10-27.
- Flannery, T.F. and Groves, C.P. (1998) A revision of the genus Zaglossus (Monotremata, Tachyglossidae), with description of new species and subspecies. Mammalia 62, 367-396.
- Parker, J., "Echidna Love Trains", "Scribbly Gum" online magazine.
- Rismiller, P., "Echidnas and Goannas of Kangaroo Island", Earthwatch Institute.
External links
- "The Enigma of the Echidna" by Doug Stewart, National Wildlife, April/May 2003.
- Scribbly Gum - Australian Broadcasting Corporation online magazine, article "Echidna Love Trains": Echidna spotting, Trains (breeding behaviour), The amazing puggle (young), Species, Dreaming (REM sleep), Managing populations; June 2000
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