Echidna

For other uses, see Echidna (disambiguation).

Echidnas
Temporal range: Pliocene–Recent
Short-beaked echidna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Monotremata
Superfamily: Ornithorhynchoidea
Family: Tachyglossidae
Gill, 1872
Type genus
Tachyglossus
Illiger, 1811
Species

Genus Tachyglossus
   T. aculeatus
Genus Zaglossus
   Z. attenboroughi
   Z. bruijnii
   Z. bartoni
Genus †Megalibgwilia
   †M. owenii
   †M. robusta
Genus †Murrayglossus
   †M. hacketti

Echidna range
  Short-beaked echidna
  Western long-beaked echidna
  Eastern long-beaked echidna
  Sir David's long-beaked echidna

Echidnas (/ɪˈkɪdnəz/), sometimes known as spiny anteaters,[1] are quill-covered[2] monotremes (egg-laying mammals) belonging to the family Tachyglossidae /tækiˈɡlɒsɪdiː/, living in Australia and New Guinea. The four extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs and the only surviving members of the order Monotremata.[3] The diet of some species consists of ants and termites, but they are not closely related to the American true anteaters or to hedgehogs. Their young are called puggles.

Echidnas evolved between 20 and 50 million years ago, descending from a platypus-like monotreme.[4] This ancestor was aquatic, but echidnas adapted to life on land.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference pwstSBE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Spines and Quills". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference nwf03 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Phillips was invoked but never defined (see the help page).