A previous post has explained why the platypus is so special. This wild animal – often called a ‘freak of nature’ – and the echidna – together make up the ‘monotremes’ ….
Monotremes are different from other mammals because they lay eggs and have no teats. The milk is provided for their young by being secreted by many pores on the female’s belly.
The echidna
The Short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus is the only species of echidna in Australia.
There are three species of Long-beaked echidnas in New Guinea ( Zaglossus attenboroughi, Zaglossus bartoni and Zaglossus bruijni)
Echidnas tongues are covered in sticky mucus that makes it easier for them to catch and snack on ants and termites, eating up to two kilograms in one meal.
The female echidna lays a single egg into a pouch on its belly. The hatchling is quite embryonic, lacking hind limbs
- sources and further info: https://australian.museum/
