Short-beaked Echidna

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Conservation status

The Short-beaked Echidna is common throughout most of temperate Australia and lowland New Guinea, and is not listed as endangered. In Australia, the number of Short-beaked Echidnas has been less affected by land clearing than have some other species, since Short-beaked Echidnas do not require a specialised habitat beyond a good supply of ants and termites. Despite their spines, they are preyed on by birds, the Tasmanian Devil, cats, foxes and dogs. They were eaten by indigenous Australians and the early European settlers of Australia. The most common threats to the animal in Australia are motorised vehicles and habitat destruction, which have led to localised extinction. Infection with the introduced parasite "Spirometra erinaceieuropaei" is fatal for the Echidna. The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland runs an Australia-wide survey called "Echidna Watch" to monitor the species in Australia.

Captive breeding is difficult, partly due to the relatively infrequent breeding cycle. Only five zoos have managed to breed a captive Short-beaked Echidna, but no captive-bred young have survived to maturity. This has conservation implications for the endangered species of echidna from the genus "Zaglossus", and to a lesser extent for the Short-beaked Echidna.

Cultural references

Short-beaked Echidnas feature in the animistic culture of Indigenous Australians, including their visual arts and stories. The species was a totem for some groups, including the Noongar people from Western Australia. Many groups have myths about the animal; one myth explains that it was created when a group of hungry, young men went hunting at night and stumbled across a wombat. They threw spears at the wombat, but lost sight of it in the darkness. The wombat adapted the spears as its own defense and turned into an Echidna. [Robinson, R. 1966. "Aboriginal Myths and Legends". Sun Books, Melbourne] Another story tells of a greedy man that kept food from his tribe; warriors speared him and he crawled away into the bushes, where he was turned into an Echidna, the spears becoming his spines.

The Short-beaked Echidna is an iconic animal in contemporary Australia, notably appearing on the Australian five-cent piece (the smallest denomination) and on a $200 commemorative coin released in 1992. The Short-beaked Echidna has been included in several postal issues: it was one of four native species to appear on Australian postage stamps in 1974, where it was the 25 cent stamp; it appeared on a 37 cent stamp in 1987, and again in 1992 when it was on the 35 cent stamp. The anthropomorphic Echidna "Millie" was a mascot for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

ee also

*Fauna of Australia
*List of monotremes and marsupials

References

Cited references

General references

*Augee, M and Gooden, B. 1993. "Echidnas of Australia and New Guinea". Australian National History Press, Sydney ISBN 978-0-86840-046-4
*Augee, M.L. 1983. R. Strahan Ed. "The Australian Museum Complete Book of Australian Mammals". p. 8–9. Angus & Robertson ISBN 0-207-14454-0
*Griffiths, M. 1989. [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/publications/fauna-of-australia/pubs/volume1b/15-ind.pdf Tachyglossidae] . Pp. 407–435 in "Fauna of Australia" (D. W. Walton and B. J. Richardson, eds.). Mammalia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 1B:1–1227.

External links

* [http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-5357K5?open Tasmanian Department of Water, Primary Industries and Environment - Short-beaked Echidna]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/June2000/default.htm Echidna Love Trains] , article with sound clips and images of puggles
* [http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife.php?page=w-echidna.html Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland - Echidna Watch]
* [http://www.australianmammals.org.au/Species/Echidna%20Profile.htm Australian Mammal Species Files]