Echidnas - a spiky affair
The word "Echidna" means "spiny one" since long dark spines can be found on their body. Like the wombat, the echidna is native to Australia and grows to a length of about 18 inches (45 cm). It has a long sticky tongue and powerful claws to catch prey which is mainly ants and termites. The echidna defends itself by rolling itself into a spiny ball or by digging itself into sandy soil. They are also good swimmers and use their long snout as a snorkel.
The female lays her eggs under rocks or in logs. Like the koala, offspring are carried in pouches. Baby echidnas do not have spikes and is fed by milk oozing from its mother�s belly. Once spikes are developed, the young echidna no longer stays in the pouch but follows its mother hunting.
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