The Short Beaked Echidna

Information to go alongside my Echidna drawing.

Description.

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Monotremata
Family	Tachyglossidae
Genus	Tachyglossus (1)

Despite its name, this spine-covered animal has a relatively elongate, slender snout (3) (4). The spines are usually yellow with black tips but can be entirely yellow (3), and provide excellent defence against predators (4). Insulation is provided by a covering of fur between the spines, which ranges in colour from honey to a dark reddish-brown and even black. A number of subspecies of the short-beaked echidna have been described, distinguished by characters of their fur and spines (3). For example, the fur is thicker and longer in the most southerly subspecies (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus), which inhabits Tasmania, than those inhabiting warmer areas. This echidna is adapted for very rapid digging, having short limbs and powerful claws, with the hind claws elongated and curved backwards (4). All short-beaked echidnas possess spurs on their hind feet (5); however, unlike the platypus (another monotreme), these spurs lack veno

 biology

Individuals of this solitary-living species only come together to mate, during which a ‘train’ of several males may follow a single female hoping to mate with her (2) (4). The short-beaked echidna is one of a small group of egg-laying mammals known as monotremes (2). About three weeks after mating, a single leathery-skinned egg is laid into a pouch on the female’s abdomen, which is then incubated for a further ten days before it hatches (5) (7). After hatching, the young remain in their mother’s pouch until they are around 45 to 55 days old, after which time they are left in a burrow while the mother is foraging (5) (7). Juveniles continue to suckle until they are weaned at about six months old, at which time they are fully independent (5) (7). Echidnas both in the wild and in captivity have been known to live up to 50 years (7).

During the warmer months, echidnas tend to be nocturnal and to avoid the heat. At higher elevations, in more temperate areas, and during winter they are more diurnal, foraging around dusk or during the day (1)(4). The short-beaked echidna’s diet consists of a large variety of invertebrates, including ants, beetles, spiders, worms, insect eggs and termites, which are lapped up with the long, mobile tongue (5).

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Short-beaked echidna range

This distinctive animal is found throughout Australia, including Tasmania, as well as Papua New Guinea (1). Within this range, the five subspecies inhabit different regions: Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion inhabits Western Australia and the Northern Territory, while T. a. aculeatus is found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. T. a. multiaculeatus inhabits Kangaroo Island, off South Australia, T. a. setosus is found only in Tasmania, and T. a. lawesii occurs in Papua New Guinea 

 habitat

The short-beaked echidna occupies a variety of habitats, from semi-arid to snowy alpine areas (7), including meadows, heathlands, woodlands, forests and Australian desert (1) (3) (4). This species normally shelters in rotten logs, tree roots, stumps, caves or burrows (self-dug or previously abandoned), or under bushes

Description

This tortoise is the largest inhabiting Asia, and the fourth largest in the world (4). Two subspecies are currently recognised: M. e. emys is commonly known as the Asian brown tortoise, and is characterised by a light to dark brown upper shell (carapace); while M. e. phayrei is commonly known as the Burmese brown tortoise, and is larger and darker in colour, having a charcoal to black upper shell (carapace) (2) (5). The forelimbs have five large claws and are covered on the front with large, heavy, overlapping scales. By contrast, the hindlimbs end in four pointed claws and bare a conspicuous cluster of very large tubercular scales on the thigh either side of the tail. These are so large that the species is sometimes referred to as the six-footed tortoise

Biology

Although not a particularly social animal, the Asian tortoise seems to have more complex vocalisations and other communication methods than other tortoises (2) (8). Males engage in vocal disputes and aggressive behaviour to discourage rivals from courting nearby females. The rather elaborate courtship involves head-bobbing and ‘fixation’ by the male, in which males fully extend their head and neck and keep it pointed towards the female as they move around (2). ‘Trailing’ is another courtship behaviour employed by the male prior to mounting, involving the male following very closely behind the female, and both males and females vocalise during courtship (2) (6).

The Asian tortoise is unique among turtles and tortoises in building a nest on the surface of the ground, and in providing maternal protection of the eggs (9). For a few days before laying, the female gathers up leaves and debris into a mound on which to place her clutch (2). Unlike most tortoises, which use their hindlimbs to excavate nest sites, Asian tortoises use their forelimbs to ‘backsweep’ surface leaf-litter (2) (8). Reported clutch sizes in captivity range from 21 to 53 eggs, which the female then covers with vegetation and guards, frequently piling more vegetation on top. If the eggs are threatened by a potential predator, the female will first attempt to drive them away by pushing and biting, but if this fails, she then defends the eggs by sprawling her body over them (2). This behaviour normally lasts just a few days following egg-laying, although up to six weeks of nest-guarding has been recorded (6). No other turtle or tortoise exhibits this high level of parental care and protection. It is thought that this behaviour helps protects the eggs by distracting and confusing the predators, and that frequently adding material to the nest may also help conceal the scent of the eggs (2).

The Asian tortoise is chiefly herbivorous, typically feeding on grasses, vegetables, leaves, seedlings, herbs, fruits and fungi, although invertebrates and amphibians have occasionally been recorded in the diet (2) (6).

Range

The Burmese brown tortoise is distributed from Assam in India, through Burma and Bangladesh to northern and west-central Thailand, while the Asian brown tortoise reportedly occurs in southern Thailand, Peninsula Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo (6) (7). However, records of specimens with characteristics of the Asian brown tortoise are found as far northwest as Assam in India, and an intergrade between the two subspecies has been reported from southern Thailand to northern Malaysia, and also in Bangladesh. Thus, the true distribution of each subspecies may require further research and revision

Habitat

The Asian tortoise inhabits temperate moist, broadleaf forest and tropical evergreen rainforest that experience monsoon rains, typically in upland areas (2) (7) (8). Furthermore, this tortoise never wanders far from water (2), and spends most of the warmer parts of the day soaking in pools or in the shade, out of the sun’s rays (5).