“The echidna looks fearsome enough, but it is a shy animal and would rather retreat than fight if disturbed.” ∼ N.S.W Government
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Echidna
Scientific name: Tachyglossus aculeatus
Conservation Status: Least Concern
can you believe only 1 in 17,000 echidnas are born albino!?
Echidnas are fascinating creatures that belong to the monotreme group of mammals, which means they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. These unique animals are covered in spines and have a long, sticky tongue that they use to catch their favourite food, ants and termites. At Symbio Wildlife Park, we are lucky enough to have a rare albino Echidna, which is a stunning and captivating sight to behold. Our albino Echidna Leo has a rare genetic mutation that gives him a striking appearance and makes him an instant favourite among visitors to the park.
ABOUT
Echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, are fascinating monotremes that can be found throughout Australia, including at Symbio Wildlife Park. These unique creatures are known for their spiky exteriors and long snouts, which they use to search for their favourite food, ants and termites. Echidnas are excellent diggers, using their strong claws and powerful legs to excavate burrows and search for prey. They are also solitary animals, spending much of their time alone, except during the breeding season.
At Symbio Wildlife Park, we are lucky to have one special echidna, an albino Echidna named Leo. Albino echidnas are extremely rare, and we are honoured to have Leo here in our care. This special creature has a completely white body, due to a lack of melanin pigment in his skin, fur, and spines. Despite their unusual appearance, albino echidnas are just as capable and adaptive as their non-albino counterparts. At Symbio, we take great pride in caring for Leo and helping visitors learn more about the amazing world of echidnas.
DIET
Echidnas are insectivorous and mainly feed on ants and termites. They use their long, sticky tongue to capture their prey, which they crush with their powerful jaws that are capable of grinding even the hardest of insect exoskeletons. Echidnas are also known to consume other small invertebrates like beetles, larvae, and worms. To find their food, echidnas use their keen sense of smell to detect the presence of insects, and then use their powerful forelimbs to dig through the soil and leaf litter to expose their prey. They are also known to use their spines to wedge open termite mounds and ant nests, which they then use their long snouts to probe into and extract insects.
Echidna
Fun Facts
- Echidnas are one of only two mammals in the world that lay eggs (the other being the platypus).
- They have a specialized tongue that can protrude up to 18cm to catch ants and termites.
- Echidnas have no teeth, and instead have keratinous spines in their mouth that grind up their food.
- They have the ability to lower their metabolism and body temperature in order to conserve energy during periods of food scarcity.
- Echidnas are covered in spines and can curl up into a ball for protection when threatened.
- Baby echidnas are called "puggles".
- Echidnas have a unique gait where their front and hind legs move together on each side of their body, similar to a reptile or amphibian.
- They have a very long lifespan for a mammal, with some individuals living up to 50 years in captivity.
- Echidnas are important animals in Australian Aboriginal culture and are featured in many Dreamtime stories.
- In addition to ants and termites, echidnas may also eat other small invertebrates like worms, beetles, and insect larvae.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN ALBINO ECHIDNA?
If you are looking for more unforgettable experiences, we have a range of other close encounters that you won’t want to miss. With so many amazing close encounters to choose from, there is something for everyone at Symbio Wildlife Park.
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