The Short-beaked Echidna is mainly found throughout Australia, and can also be found in Tasmania. The Echidna lives in forests and woodlands, and throughout native Australia Bushland. The Echidna lives in temperatures ranging from 20-25 degrees Celsius. The Echidna hibernates when temperature decreases and rainfall increases, although if flooding occurs the Echidna is able to dive under water in order to survive. The Echidna is able to gather food by using its pointed snout, and claws to dig for food. They feed on ants, termites, grubs and worms by using their long sticky tongue.
The short-beaked Echidna faces major challenges as it is the pray for creatures such as foxes and dingoes. These animals are fit enough to catch and kill Echidnas; this is a major challenge for the Echidna as it lives in the same environment then its predators.
Another challenge that faces the Echidnas is the ability to look after their young babies. As many other animals are simply able to eat a young Echidna, animals such as snakes, birds and goannas. This is a major challenger that the Echidna faces to protect their young which also puts themselves at risk.
Structural Adaptation:
Echidnas structural adaptation is their spikes that cover the body in order to protect them, this helps the Echidna to survive as its predators then realize they are also at risk of injury.
Behavioral Adaptation:
Echidnas have the ability to dig die to the so called paws/claws they have, this enables the Echidna to dig their own nest but can also enable the Echidna to dig into ant nests in order to get food. Once in the ant nest the Echidna sticks its tongue in and out and due it the tongue being long and sticky it gives them a higher chance of catching their prey. This is a vital part of the short-beaked Echidna as it enables the Echidna to gather food easier than without this adaptation.
Physiological Adaptation:
When the short-beaked Echidna is pregnant it only produces one egg, which then hatches 10 days after being in the pouch, milk is then produced by the mother Echidna for the younger Echidna to feed off for up to 2 months. This helps the mother Echidna to survive as it can only produce enough milk to nurture one baby Echidna, if their were more then one egg the demand for milk would be to high and the mother Echidna and her baby’s will be at risk of dying.
During the birth stage for the short-beaked Echidna is when the Echidna demonstrates a rhythmic pattern, as the mother Echidna only lays one egg, which then hatches 10 days after it is born. The moment the baby Echidna hatches it is partly blind and hairless this is why it stays in the mothers pouch for up to two months where the new born is able to suck milk and is left to develop hair, spikes, sight and smell. After 2-4 months the Echidna leaves the mothers pouch, but will continue to feed from the mothers milk. This rhythmic pattern occurs each time the mother Echidnas fall pregnant and has a baby.
Interesting fact:
The short-beaked Echidna is one of only 5 mammals that lay eggs.
The short-beaked Echidna faces major challenges as it is the pray for creatures such as foxes and dingoes. These animals are fit enough to catch and kill Echidnas; this is a major challenge for the Echidna as it lives in the same environment then its predators.
Another challenge that faces the Echidnas is the ability to look after their young babies. As many other animals are simply able to eat a young Echidna, animals such as snakes, birds and goannas. This is a major challenger that the Echidna faces to protect their young which also puts themselves at risk.
Structural Adaptation:
Echidnas structural adaptation is their spikes that cover the body in order to protect them, this helps the Echidna to survive as its predators then realize they are also at risk of injury.
Behavioral Adaptation:
Echidnas have the ability to dig die to the so called paws/claws they have, this enables the Echidna to dig their own nest but can also enable the Echidna to dig into ant nests in order to get food. Once in the ant nest the Echidna sticks its tongue in and out and due it the tongue being long and sticky it gives them a higher chance of catching their prey. This is a vital part of the short-beaked Echidna as it enables the Echidna to gather food easier than without this adaptation.
Physiological Adaptation:
When the short-beaked Echidna is pregnant it only produces one egg, which then hatches 10 days after being in the pouch, milk is then produced by the mother Echidna for the younger Echidna to feed off for up to 2 months. This helps the mother Echidna to survive as it can only produce enough milk to nurture one baby Echidna, if their were more then one egg the demand for milk would be to high and the mother Echidna and her baby’s will be at risk of dying.
During the birth stage for the short-beaked Echidna is when the Echidna demonstrates a rhythmic pattern, as the mother Echidna only lays one egg, which then hatches 10 days after it is born. The moment the baby Echidna hatches it is partly blind and hairless this is why it stays in the mothers pouch for up to two months where the new born is able to suck milk and is left to develop hair, spikes, sight and smell. After 2-4 months the Echidna leaves the mothers pouch, but will continue to feed from the mothers milk. This rhythmic pattern occurs each time the mother Echidnas fall pregnant and has a baby.
Interesting fact:
The short-beaked Echidna is one of only 5 mammals that lay eggs.