#tachyglossus

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), family Tachyglossidae, Canberra, Australia

Also called "spiny anteaters".

Echidnas are monotremes, mammals that lay eggs (along with platypuses).

Females lay eggs and keep them in a pouch.

The hatchlings are called "puggles".

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), family Tachyglossidae, Canberra, Australia

Also called "spiny anteaters".

Echidnas are monotremes, mammals that lay eggs (along with platypuses).

Females lay eggs and keep them in a pouch.

The hatchlings are called "puggles".

A short beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) in Freycinet, Australia

Short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus

Range includes most of Australia, Tasmania, and other offshore islands.

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), family Tachyglossidae, Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia

Echidnas are also called "Spiny Anteaters"

Echidnas are monotremes, egg-laying mammals.

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), family Tachyglossidae, Australia

Echidnas are also called "Spiny Anteaters"

Echidnas are monotremes, egg-laying mammals.

The spines of a short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) 

Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) Also known as: spiny anteater

Short-beaked Echidnas belong to a unique group of mammals called Monotremes. Apart from echidnas, the only other animal in the world that belongs to this group is the Platypus. They are egg-laying mammals with a pouch for the young to develop in after hatching. Short-beaked Echidnas can be found in almost any terrestrial environment in Australia, from wet coastal areas to deserts.

Subspecies T. a. acanthion T. a. aculeatus T. a. lawesii T. a. multiaculeatus T. a. setosus

Classification Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Monotremata - Tachyglossa - Tachyglossidae - Tachyglossus - T. aculeatus