A spiny egg-laying mammal found in many Australian habitats.
Sharp spines, short legs and an elongated snout distinguish it.
Short-beaked Echidnas lay eggs and feed on ants and termites, breaking nests open with claws and snout and collecting prey with a sticky tongue.
A female usually lays one egg, which hatches after about ten days. The blind, hairless young clings to hairs in her pouch and drinks milk.
Once spines develop, the mother builds a burrow for the young, which continues to nurse. Cars, dogs and foxes can kill echidnas, while cats may take young.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Cars, dogs and foxes can kill Short-beaked Echidnas; cats may take the young.