Echidnas[1]
Western Long-beaked Echidna
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Monotremata Family: Tachyglossidae Gill, 1872
Species
Genus Tachyglossus    T. aculeatus Genus Zaglossus    Z. attenboroughi    Z. bruijnii    Z. bartoni    †Z. hacketti    †Z. robustus Genus †Megalibgwilia    †M. ramsayi    †M. robusta An echidna is any of several Australasian monotremes. ... Image File history File links Long-beakedEchidna. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters and Doria, 1876) The Western Long-beaked Echidna is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria For the folk-rock band see The Mammals. ... Families Kollikodontidae (extinct) Ornithorhynchidae - Platypus Tachyglossidae - Echidnas Steropodontidae (extinct) Monotremes are mammals that are best known for laying eggs, instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials and placental mammals (Eutheria). ... Theodore Nicholas Gill (1837 - 1914) was an American ichthyologist. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: it is patent nonsense. ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ... Species Zaglossus attenboroughi Zaglossus bartoni Zaglossus bruijnii Zaglossus hacketti (extinct) Zaglossus robustus (extinct) Zaglossus is the genus of the echidna, a spiny monotreme that lives in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Flannery & Groves, 1998 Sir Davids Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), also known as the Attenboroughs Long-beaked Echidna or Cyclops Long-beaked Echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters and Doria, 1876) The Western Long-beaked Echidna is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bartoni (Thomas, 1907) The Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni), also known as Bartons Long-beaked Echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. ... Species Zaglossus attenboroughi Zaglossus brujinii Zaglossus hacketti (extinct) Zaglossus robustus (extinct) Zaglossus is the genus of the echidna, a spiny monotreme that lives in Australia. ... Species Zaglossus attenboroughi Zaglossus brujinii Zaglossus hacketti (extinct) Zaglossus robustus (extinct) Zaglossus is the genus of the echidna, a spiny monotreme that lives in Australia. ... Species † (Owen, 1884) † (Dun, 1896) Megalibgwilia is a genus of echidna only known from fossils from Australia, it incorporates the oldest known echidna species. ... Species † (Owen, 1884) † (Dun, 1896) Megalibgwilia is a genus of echidna only known from fossils from Australia, it incorporates the oldest known echidna species. ... Species † (Owen, 1884) † (Dun, 1896) Megalibgwilia is a genus of echidna only known from fossils from Australia, it incorporates the oldest known echidna species. ...

A Short-beaked Echidna curled into a ball; the snout is visible on the right.

Echidnas (pronounced /ɨˈkɪdnə/), also known as spiny anteaters,^[2] are four extant mammal species belonging to the Tachyglossidae family of the monotremes. Together with the Platypus, they are the only surviving members of that order. 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. The echidnas are named after a monster in ancient Greek mythology. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 369 KB) Summary Photo taken (29th July 2003) and supplied by Nachoman-au. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 369 KB) Summary Photo taken (29th July 2003) and supplied by Nachoman-au. ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ... In biology, extant taxon is commonly used in discussions of living and fossil species. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria For the folk-rock band see The Mammals. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... Families †Kollikodontidae Ornithorhynchidae Tachyglossidae †Steropodontidae Monotremes (from the Greek monos single + trema hole, referring to the cloaca) are mammals that lay eggs (Prototheria) instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials (Metatheria) and placental mammals (Eutheria). ... For other uses, see Platypus (disambiguation). ... In scientific classification used in biology, the order (Latin: ordo, plural ordines) is a rank between class and family (termed a taxon at that rank). ... For other uses, see Anteater (disambiguation). ... In the most ancient layers of Greek mythology Echidna (ekhis, meaning she viper) was called the Mother of All Monsters. Echidna was described by Hesiod as a female monster spawned in a cave, who mothered with her mate Typhoeus (or Typhon) every major monster in the Greek myths, (Theogony, 295...

[edit] Description

Short-beaked Echidna

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. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1067 pixel, file size: 723 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A wild shortbeak echidna, taken in Swifts Creek, Victoria If you are a (commercial) publisher and you want me to write you an email or paper... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1067 pixel, file size: 723 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A wild shortbeak echidna, taken in Swifts Creek, Victoria If you are a (commercial) publisher and you want me to write you an email or paper... This article is about the body feature. ... Raised thorns on the stem of the wait-a-bit climber Thorns on rose stems A spine is a rigid, pointed surface protuberance or needle-like structure on an animal, shell, or plant, presumably serving as a defense against attack by predators. ... This article is about the spiny mammal. ... This article is about the rodent mammal. ... A limb (from the Old English lim) is a jointed, or prehensile (as octopus tentacles or new world monkey tails), appendage of the human or animal body; a large or main branch of a tree; a representative, branch or member of a group or organization. ... Cat claw A claw is a curved pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger or, in arthropods, of the tarsus. ... For other uses, see Mouth (disambiguation). ... Human jaw front view Human jaw left view Human jaw top view The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth. ... Categories: Stub | Myrmecology ... For other uses, see Tongue (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ...

The long-beaked echidnas have tiny spines on their tongues that helps capture its meals.

Echidnas and 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. In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Puggle can refer to: A crossbred dog (Pug and Beagle). ... A glass of cows milk. ... Lactiferous ducts are lobes of the mammary gland at the tip of the nipple. ... Mammary glands are the organs that, in the female mammal, produce milk for the sustenance of the young. ... This article is about the anatomical structure. ...

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.^[3] The penis (plural penises, penes) is an external male sexual organ. ...

[edit] 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. Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Species Zaglossus attenboroughi Zaglossus bartoni Zaglossus bruijnii Zaglossus hacketti (extinct) Zaglossus robustus (extinct) Zaglossus is the genus of the echidna, a spiny monotreme that lives in New Guinea. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fossil (disambiguation). ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: it is patent nonsense. ... Species † (Owen, 1884) † (Dun, 1896) Megalibgwilia is a genus of echidna only known from fossils from Australia, it incorporates the oldest known echidna species. ...

[edit] 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: In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... For the LPG album, see The Earthworm (album). ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera...

• 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: Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters and Doria, 1876) The Western Long-beaked Echidna is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. ... This article is about a community of trees. ... Binomial name Flannery & Groves, 1998 Sir Davids Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), also known as the Attenboroughs Long-beaked Echidna or Cyclops Long-beaked Echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bartoni (Thomas, 1907) The Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni), also known as Bartons Long-beaked Echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. ...

• Zaglossus robustus
• Zaglossus hacketti

Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters and Doria, 1876) The Long-beaked Echidna is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters and Doria, 1876) The Long-beaked Echidna is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. ...

[edit] Tachyglossus

In Australia the Short-beaked Echidna may be found in many environments, including urban parkland such as the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, as depicted here.

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. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (822x707, 261 KB) Summary Short-nosed Echidna searching for food beside Lake Burley Griffin in the centre of Canberra. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (822x707, 261 KB) Summary Short-nosed Echidna searching for food beside Lake Burley Griffin in the centre of Canberra. ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ... Sunset over Lake Burley Griffin, viewed from the Commonwealth Bridge Lake Burley Griffin is a lake in the centre of Canberra, Australias federal capital city. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ... Looking across everlastings on Mt Hotham to Mt Feathertop; during winter these mountains are blanketed in snow The Australian Alps The Australian Alps are the highest mountain ranges of mainland Australia. ... This article is about arid terrain. ... For other uses, see Outback (disambiguation). ...

[edit] Megalibgwilia

The genus Megalibgwilia is only known from fossils: Species † (Owen, 1884) † (Dun, 1896) Megalibgwilia is a genus of echidna only known from fossils from Australia, it incorporates the oldest known echidna species. ...

• Megalibgwilia ramsayi from Late Pleistocene sites in Australia
• Megalibgwilia robusta from Miocene sites in Australia

Late Pleistocene (also known as Upper Pleistocene or the Tarantian) is a stage of the Pleistocene Epoch. ... The Miocene Epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23. ...

[edit] Media

A French Island echidna building a defensive burrow (0:43s)

French Island National Park is located on French Island on Western Port, Victoria, (Australia), 61 km southeast of Melbourne. ...

[edit] References

This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate.

• 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.

Dr Colin Groves is a Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. ... is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... New Scientist is a weekly international science magazine covering recent developments in science and technology for a general English-speaking audience. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Earthwatch Institute is an international non-profit organization that was founded in 1971 near Boston (USA). ...

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Echidna

Wikispecies has information related to:

Tachyglossidae

• "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

Image File history File links Wikispecies-logo. ... Wikispecies is a wiki-based online project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation that aims to create a comprehensive free content catalogue of all species (including animalia, plantae, fungi, bacteria, archaea, and protista). ... Families †Kollikodontidae Ornithorhynchidae Tachyglossidae †Steropodontidae Monotremes (from the Greek monos single + trema hole, referring to the cloaca) are mammals that lay eggs (Prototheria) instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials (Metatheria) and placental mammals (Eutheria). ... Phyla Subkingdom Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subkingdom Agnotozoa Placozoa Orthonectida Rhombozoa Subkingdom Metazoa Radiata Cnidaria Ctenophora - Comb jellies Bilateria Protostomia Acoelomorpha Platyhelminthes - Flatworms Nemertina - Ribbon worms Gastrotricha Gnathostomulida - Jawed worms Micrognathozoa Rotifera - Rotifers Acanthocephala Priapulida Kinorhyncha Loricifera Entoprocta Nematoda - Roundworms Nematomorpha - Horsehair worms Cycliophora Mollusca - Mollusks Sipuncula - Peanut worms Annelida - Segmented... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... The Australosphenida are a sub-class of mammals which has nearly entirely died out. ... Genera Obdurodon (extinct) Ornithorhynchus Ornithorhyncidae is one of two families in the order Monotremata, and contains all species of platypus. ... For other uses, see Platypus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Platypus (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters and Doria, 1876) The Long-beaked Echidna is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bruijnii (Peters and Doria, 1876) The Western Long-beaked Echidna is one of the four extant echidnas and one of three species of Zaglossus that occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Flannery & Groves, 1998 Sir Davids Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), also known as the Attenboroughs Long-beaked Echidna or Cyclops Long-beaked Echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Zaglossus bartoni (Thomas, 1907) The Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni), also known as Bartons Long-beaked Echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. ...