Leslie Massey
The short-beaked echidna is the only species of echidna found in Australia. It is easily recognised by its sharp spines, short legs, and long snout. They are found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, meadows, mountains, rocky landscapes, and even deserts. They are found in most parts of mainland Australia and Tasmania, though they are less common in Sydney than they once were.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Species | Short-beaked Echidna |
| Scientific Name | Tachyglossus aculeatus |
| Habitat | Forests, meadows, snow-capped mountains, rocky landscapes, deserts, urban outskirts, coastal forests, dry inland areas |
| Distribution | Across most of Australia, Tasmania, Kangaroo Island |
| Length | 30-45 cm |
| Weight | 2-7 kg |
| Diet | Ants, termites, insects |
| Behaviour | Nocturnal or crepuscular in warm weather, hibernation in winter |
| Conservation Status | Not endangered |
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What You'll Learn
Widespread in Australia
The short-beaked echidna is the only species of echidna in Australia. It is widespread in Australia and holds the title of Australia's most widespread native mammal. It is found across most parts of mainland Australia and Tasmania. They occupy a wide range of habitats, including urban outskirts, coastal forests, arid zones, rainforests, coastal margins, the tropics, snowy regions, and dry inland areas. They are found in forests, meadows, snow-capped mountains, rocky landscapes, and even deserts. They are easily recognised by their sharp spines, short legs, and long snout.
Short-beaked echidnas are found in a wider variety of habitats and climates than any other mammal in Australia. They are one of the few animals that can easily survive wildfires by entering a stage of torpor. During this state, they lower their body temperature significantly to reduce their energy needs and sleep through the entire event. They are also able to survive extreme weather by burrowing into the soil, hiding under vegetation, and sheltering in hollow logs, rock crevices, and burrows created by other animals.
Short-beaked echidnas are slow-moving and prone to being hit by cars. They are also under threat from habitat loss and predation by feral cats, foxes, and dogs, which may invade burrows to eat young echidnas. When threatened, they will curl into a ball and protect themselves with their spines, or lodge themselves into a log or rock crevice.
Short-beaked echidnas typically grow to between 30 and 45 centimetres in length and weigh between two and seven kilograms. They have small eyes, and their body is covered with cream-coloured spines that may be up to five centimetres long. The fur between the spines ranges in colour from honey to a dark reddish-brown and even black, providing insulation. They have extremely strong front limbs and claws, which they use for digging and breaking open logs and termite mounds.
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Tasmania subspecies
The short-beaked echidna is the only species of echidna in Australia. It is found throughout the country, including Tasmania and Kangaroo Island. The Tasmanian short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus) is a subspecies endemic to Tasmania. It was first described by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1803 based on two specimens, one of which was discovered on or near Bruny Island.
The Tasmanian subspecies is smaller than its Australian mainland counterparts, measuring 30-45 cm in length and weighing 2-7 kg. Its Latin name, setosus, translates to 'longer fur', which blends in with its spines. The neck is not visible externally, giving the appearance that the head and body are merged. The eyes are small, at about 9 mm in diameter, and the snout is wedge-shaped. The mouth can only open to a width of 5 mm, just enough for its long, sticky tongue to protrude and catch prey.
Tasmanian short-beaked echidnas have strong front limbs and claws, allowing them to burrow quickly and powerfully. They are well-adapted to survive underground, tolerating high carbon dioxide levels and low oxygen levels. They are also able to survive wildfires by entering a state of torpor, lowering their body temperature to reduce energy needs and sleeping through the event. This ability, along with their tolerance of temperate and arid conditions, contributes to their wide distribution across Australia.
Tasmanian short-beaked echidnas are monotremes, meaning they lay eggs. The female lays a single, leather-tough egg directly into her temporary pouch, formed by contracting abdominal muscles. After about 21-22 days, a baby echidna, or 'puggle', hatches, weighing only about 0.3-2.0 g. The lifespan of these echidnas is estimated to be between 10 and 50 years in the wild and up to 50 years in captivity.
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Kangaroo Island
The echidna, a member of the monotreme family, exhibits both mammalian and reptilian traits. They produce milk for their young, yet they lay eggs, a trait that sets them apart from other mammals. Echidnas also possess hair and spines, with their hind feet pointing backward. The Kangaroo Island echidna, scientifically known as Tachyglossus aculeatus multiaculeatus, is a hibernating species that endures the winter months underground, reducing its metabolism to conserve energy.
Short-beaked echidnas, the only species of echidna found in Australia, are highly adaptable, occupying a variety of habitats on the island. They can be found in woodlands, heaths, mallee, and coastal areas. Echidnas are typically solitary, foraging for food both day and night, and seeking shelter in hollow logs, under debris, in self-dug burrows, or among tree roots. Their strong front limbs and sharp claws make them adept at burrowing, a skill that also helps them escape predators.
Echidnas have a unique defence mechanism against predators. When disturbed, they freeze, then curl into a tight ball, deterring potential threats with their sharp spines. This behaviour also helps them regulate their body temperature, as they are unable to sweat and are sensitive to heat. Echidnas are most active at dusk or after dark, and their exceptional hearing and sense of smell aid their survival.
The breeding season for Kangaroo Island echidnas falls between May and September. During this period, male echidnas form 'trains' behind females, with up to six males vying for the attention of a single female. The successful male and female echidnas mate, and the female typically lays one egg annually. The baby echidna, known as a "puggle," starts its life in its mother's pouch, leaving after about six months when it becomes too large and spiky.
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Nocturnal in hot weather
The short-beaked echidna is the only species of echidna in Australia. It is found throughout the country, including Tasmania, and occupies a wide range of habitats, from forests and meadows to snow-capped mountains, rocky landscapes, and even deserts.
Short-beaked echidnas are typically active during the day, but they are unable to tolerate heat due to their lack of sweat glands and inability to pant. As a result, in hot weather, they become nocturnal or crepuscular to avoid the hottest times of the day. They are most active in the spring, spending more time digging and foraging, and their activity is influenced by changes in seasonal energy requirements, prey availability, and breeding priorities.
During warm days, echidnas may seek shelter in burrows, tree hollows, clumps of grass, piles of leaves, or under rocks to escape the heat. They are also able to swim to keep their body temperatures low. In addition, echidnas can enter a state of torpor or hibernation in response to high temperatures, reducing their metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature to conserve energy.
The ability to tolerate life amid wildfires is one of the most interesting features of short-beaked echidnas. They can survive wildfires by entering a stage of torpor, lowering their body temperatures, and sleeping through the event. This strategy may also help them conserve energy after fires when their prey moves deeper underground.
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Under threat from vehicles
Short-beaked echidnas are found across most of Australia, from the arid zone to rainforests, coastal margins, tropics, and snowy regions. They are the country's most widespread native mammal, inhabiting diverse environments, including forests, woodlands, heath, grasslands, arid environments, meadows, snow-capped mountains, rocky landscapes, and even deserts. They are also present in Tasmania and Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
Short-beaked echidnas are under significant threat from vehicles as they move slowly and can wander along roadsides while foraging for termites. Their proximity to roads and densely populated areas increases their risk of being hit by vehicles, which is a leading cause of death for this species. According to data from the Echidna Conservation Science Initiative (EchidnaCSI), 82% of reported sightings of deceased echidnas were due to vehicle strikes. This threat is further exacerbated by habitat loss, as echidnas are known to wander along roadsides when their natural habitats are disturbed or destroyed.
The establishment of roads and infrastructure can fragment echidnas' habitats, making them more vulnerable to vehicle strikes and isolating populations, which can lead to inbreeding and a further decline in genetic diversity. Additionally, roads can act as barriers to movement, disrupting echidnas' natural migration patterns and breeding behaviors.
To mitigate these threats, conservation efforts should focus on implementing wildlife-friendly road infrastructure, such as echidna-proof fences or underpasses, to help reduce vehicle collisions and facilitate safe movement across roads. Creating wildlife corridors that connect fragmented habitats can also help echidnas access resources and move between areas more safely.
Public education and awareness campaigns can also play a crucial role in reducing vehicle strikes. Educating motorists about echidnas' slow-moving nature and their presence near roads can encourage drivers to be more cautious and reduce their speed in echidna habitats. Additionally, promoting citizen science initiatives, such as the EchidnaCSI project, can help gather valuable data on echidna distributions and hotspots for vehicle strikes, informing targeted conservation strategies to protect this iconic Australian species.
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Frequently asked questions
The short-beaked echidna is the only species of echidna in Australia and can be found in a wide range of habitats and climates, from forests and woodlands to grasslands, alpine habitats, coastal margins, arid zones, and even deserts. They are found in most parts of mainland Australia and Tasmania, though they are not as common in Sydney as they once were.
The short-beaked echidna is Australia's most widespread native mammal. They are slow-moving and often shy, so they are infrequently seen, but they can be found wandering over areas between 21 and 93 hectares.
The long-beaked echidna is not found in Australia, but three species are present in Papua New Guinea, two of which are critically endangered.
