Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 22

Echidna

In Greek mythology, a fabulous creature, half-woman and half-snake, who was the mother of various monsters.

iEchidnas

Western Long-beaked Echidna
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Monotremata
Family: Tachyglossidae
Gill, 1872
Species

Genus Tachyglossus
   T. The Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni), of which 4 distinct subspecies have been identified

The two extinct species are:

Zaglossus robustus Zaglossus hacketti

Tachyglossus genus

The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is found in south east New Guinea and also occurs in almost all Australian environments: from the snow-clad Australian Alps to the deep deserts of the Outback: essentially anywhere that ants and termites are available.

Description

Echidnas are small mammals that are covered with coarse hair and spines.

The four species of echidna, along with the Platypus, are the only egg-laying mammals.

In popular culture

Knuckles the Echidna is a character in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series.

In the BBC TV series The Koala Brothers, Sammy the Echidna runs the General Store.

An echidna named Millie was used as one of the mascots for the 2000 Olympic Games.

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