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Project Noah Nature School
Tachyglossus aculeatus
Strong sharp spines which in this Tasmanian form are almost covered by fur, foreclaws are like shovels, hindclaws directed backwards (see photo #2) used for grooming. Ground dweller. Fur varies in length geographically. Their single egg and later the juvenile is carried in the belly pouch. Later left in nest in burrow and weaned at about 8 months.
Throughout all Australia. Day or night feeder depending on climate and temperature. The ones we saw were all in forested areas and usually had their "short-beak" buried in forest debris! This one was more obliging. They are toothless and eat with their long sticky tongue.
The one we say at Cradle Mtn was so pre-occupied with feeding that it went right under the boardwalk we were standing silently on and kept routing around in the leaves under there. Maybe a permanent residence? Great info found in Mammals of Australia by Menkhorst and Knight. These unique little tank-like mammals are monotremes and marsupials!
Spotted on Jan 15, 2014
Submitted on Mar 12, 2014
2 Comments
Thanks, kd. It was a really fun spotting!!
Lovely, so different to the ones here.