SHORT-BEAKED ECHIDNA

Tachyglossus aculeatus

External links

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)

Media Center Navigation

SHORT-BEAKED ECHIDNA

Images


Choose images

Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792)

Page navigation

Page 1

Table Of Contents

Description

Source and Additional Information
ARKive external link
 
Some rights reserved
Some rights reserved

Despite its name, this spine-covered animal has a relatively elongate, slender snout (3) (4). The spines are usually yellow with black tips but can be entirely yellow (3), and provide excellent defence against predators (4). Insulation is provided by a covering of fur between the spines, which ranges in colour from honey to a dark reddish-brown and even black. This fur is thicker and longer in the Tasmanian subspecies (T. a. setosus) than in those of the warmer mainland areas, often covering the spines almost completely. This echidna is adapted for very rapid digging, having short limbs and powerful claws, with the hind claws elongated and curved backwards (4). All short-beaked echidnas possess spurs on their hind feet (5), however, unlike the platypus (another monotreme), these spurs lack venom (2).