Tachyglossidae

Tachyglossidae 

Tachyglossidae is a family of monotremes, popularly known as echidnas or zaglossos. They live in Australia and New Guinea.

Description

The echidna (pronounced: echidna) outwardly resembles a hedgehog, with his body covered with spines and curly coat. Adults average about 30 cm in length and have a characteristic long snout. The mouth is small and has no teeth; in compensation, the echidnas have a long, sticky tongue, with which catch the ants and termites (termites in Brazil) that are their main source of food (resembling the anteater or bear-tingling).

The echidna is a solitary and nocturnal animal. Avoid contact with other members of their species outside the breeding season. There are territorial, constantly wandering in search of food. Your sense of sight is extremely accurate. When they feel in danger, the echidnas are rolled over themselves to protect the stomach with the thorny part. They can also dig a hole quickly, managing to bury itself completely in a short time.

Like the other monotremes, females lay eggs instead of giving birth to their young, about twenty days after fertilization. The eggs are incubated in a pouch located on the ventral area of ​​the female. After about 10 days the eggs hatch and the chicks are fed breast milk, sucking through pores. Unlike other mammals, females of echidna, such as the platypus, have no nipples.

The echidnas are animals quite adaptable to the environment: the populations living in mountainous areas hibernating in winter while living in desert areas are somewhat active in the summer.