Australia: Echidnas in the Wild
We got lucky to spot echidnas in the wild – twice: once along the highway on the Great Ocean Road and another along the hiking trail at the Twelve Apostles. Echidnas are iconic Australian animals and one of only two mammals that lay eggs (platypus is the other one). The name echidna itself comes from Greek mythology where “Echidna” was the “Mother of Monsters”, believed to be a half woman, half snake – and the animal possesses features both of a mammal and a reptile. Echidnas feed on insects, mostly ants and termites. They use their claws to open the termite or ant mounds and then stick their long and sticky 15 cm tongues inside. Interestingly, echidnas have no teeth at all. Their body temperature is second lowest of all mammals (again platypus is the winner here). Absolutely incredible animals!
