Today we are going to explore one of the most unique mammals that I know about.  Our subject today is a member of only a few egg-laying mammals called monotremes.  I believe we may have briefly discussed this during the platypus post.  What? You don’t remember anything about the playtpus?!? Well then just click here and get refreshed.  I promise to wait for you.

You sure took your time reading that post.  Oh well, back to today’s Wild Fact.  We are going to look at the Echidna which is also known as the spiny anteater.  If you want to search for these little guys then you had better head to Australia or New Guinea.  I know, as if I need another reason to check out these awesome places.  Obviously the most interesting feature about this animal is their ability to lay one egg like a bird does.  The egg will hatch in about 10 days and out pops a tiny echidna.  And I mean tiny!! They are about the size of a jellybean when they first hatch. What? You thought I was kidding when I said they were tiny? As you can imagine the wild is no place for a jellybean sized spiny anteater.  For this reason it will live the next three months out in their mothers pouch. This is probably a smart idea since everybody loves to eat Jelly Belly’s!

This Spiny Anteater gets this name since they like to feast on ants and termites.  Oh! And because they have spines. Even though they look pretty fearsome, the echidna is a pretty shy animal that would retreat rather than stick around and fight.  When frightened, they will usually tuck their legs and snout in towards their body as they curl up into a ball.  Funny enough, I have the same fighting strategy.  Although it doesn’t work very well since I don’t have any sharp spines. Similar to the platypus the echidna has a sharp spur on their hind foot.  Unlike the platypus though, they don’t have any poison they can inject into would-be predators.  Just their luck, eh?

Echidna Fast Fact – The Spiny Anteater may look similar to other animals such as hedgehogs and porcupines but they are not related to these animals.  They have similar qualities due to convergent evolution.  I have babbled on long enough so I won’t define convergent evolution.  If you don’t feel like doing homework then just leave me a comment and I will describe what this is for you.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!