They sense electric fields, tolerate snow and have ‘mating trains’: 4 reasons echidnas really are remarkable

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 03:47:55 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/they-sense-electric-fields-tolerate-snow-and-have-mating-trains-4-reasons-echidnas-really-are-remarkable-210556>

"Many of us love seeing an echidna. Their shuffling walk, inquisitive gaze and
protective spines are unmistakable, coupled with the coarse hair and stubby
beak.

They look like a quirky blend of hedgehog and anteater. But they’re not related
to these creatures at all. They’re even more mysterious and unusual than
commonly assumed.

Australia has just one species, the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus
aculeatus
), which roams virtually the entire continent. But it has five
subspecies, which are often markedly different. Tasmanian echidnas are much
hairier and Kangaroo Island echidnas join long mating trains.

Here are four things that make echidnas remarkable."

One was walking across our driveway a few months ago. It might even live on our
property.

Share and enjoy,
               *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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