Echidna

An echidna, also known as a spiny anteater, is a small, spiny mammal native to Australia and New Guinea. It is one of only two living species of monotremes, which are mammals that lay eggs.

Echidnas have a stout body with a coat of sharp spines on their back. Their snout is long and tubular, and they have a small, toothless mouth. They have powerful claws on their front feet that they use for digging.

Echidnas are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, and grasslands. They are carnivores and their diet consists of a wide variety of insects, including ants and termites. They use their powerful claws to dig into ant hills and their long, sticky tongue to capture their prey.

Echidnas are solitary and nocturnal animals. They are known for their ability to curl up into a spiny ball when threatened. As a monotreme, the female lays a single egg and then places it in a pouch on her belly. The egg hatches within 10 days, and the young remains in the pouch for up to two months.