Echidna

Echidna

Physical Description-caramel coat with spines on the back and coarse hair- tubular,hairless snout-blunt tail-approx.570-650mm and 7kg -cautious,waddling movement

Tachyglossus aculeatus

Environment-less producive areas of Australia and New Guinea-woodland/grasslands-from warm interior to Alpine regions-clusters of grass in the shade

AdaptationsForefeet- effective claws for digging into soil, ant and termite nestsSnout- alert sense of smell to sniff out preyTongue- flicking up termites and ants Beak- special cells which are reactive to electro-magnetic signals in all living thingsWhen threatened rolls into a ball for protection

Reproduction-May to September-Females let out an unpleasant odour to attract males for mating-Females mate every two years-Gestation period is 21-28 days-head-to-head physical contact which results in larger male winning the female -Only can produce one puggle per every two years

monotreme

cautious

Bibliography Sourcing--http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/mammals-animals/other-mammals/weirdest-echidna/ -Chee Zee Jungle-Incompetech- Music and Sounds-www.mathsa.com -https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=zSz07HRLP8lzQM&tbnid=SRWeQf1I1Ln_pM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zoo.org.au%2Fhealesville%2Fanimals%2Fechidna&ei=NsexUZfKB8KnkAXB9oDoAg&psig=AFQjCNEWQJ156DZddzwwPea1MeKFecE_eQ&ust=137069176149323-Wildlife Fact File- Echidna-httlp://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/-www.abc.net.au/schoolstv/animals/EMUS.htm -http://www.australianwildlife.com.au/echidna.htm www.greenslopes.org

Most Interesting FactsThe average size of a newly hatched echidna (puggle) is smaller than a jelly bean (12mm)The echidna is a monotreme, which is a mammal that lays eggs

solitary

spiky

intelligent

A Puggle

Example Habitat