The Short-beaked Echidna is one of only three egg-laying mammals in the world including the platypus and a New Guinea echidna. It has no teeth, an extremely long tongue, a long snout and strong fore claws which it uses to feed on ants and termites. When disturbed, the Echidna turns into a ball of spines or digs vertically into soil until it completely disappears. Females lay a single soft shelled egg - probably directly into the pouch. The young hatch after ten days and remain in the pouch for three months. Distribution of the Short-beaked Echidna in Australia.

 © 2008 The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden