World Travel 4 Indians

Echidna in Australia

The Echidna or the spiny eater is one of the rare species of monotremes in the world. It is mostly found in the Australian state of Tasmania.

The Echidna has been successful in mak9ing its presence felt in the lives of the Australians by roaming around the whole place, without any restrictions.

The Echidnas are the most cared for amongst all the wildlife animals in Australia.

So, if you veer encounter an Echidna in your journey then remember to make way for it or give way to it. After all, if special creatures do require special treatment!

These tiny creatures have a maximum weight of 5 kilograms and are 30 to 45 cm in length.

The echidna protects its small body with the help of the cream colored spines which make them look like a bundle of needles.

The spiny ant-eater has remarkable defensive ability when it feels threatened. It rolls itself into a ball, with prickly spines out to protect its soft under-parts, and can dig itself into sand or earth with a great rapidity.

If disturbed, the Echidna's instant reaction is to burrow straight downwards. Once half buried, with the massive claws of its incredibly strong limbs hooked under roots or rocks, it is almost impossible to lift up or turn over.

The Echidna is mostly found in Tasmania, though it is also common in the other regions of Australia like in open moorlands and forests.

The Echidna is a very shy type of a creature and moves around mostly, looking down. It lives on termites and ants and all kinds of worms that it finds.

The most important part of the Echidna is that it has no been affected by the land clearing in Australia like the other wild animals.

The Echidna also served as food for the aboriginals. But in the recent times it has been protected from consumption by wildlife law.

The short-beaked Echidna eats ants and termites, the New Guinea species eats worms. The short-beaked Echidnas living in arid areas may fast for weeks when there is a shortage of insect food.

The Echidna is one of the sweetest creatures that you can find in Tasmania. But be a little careful; don't try to touch them without protection as the spines might cause local infection.

Man is the only natural predator of these mammals, though they are increasingly falling prey to feral cats and dogs.