Monotreme– an egg-laying mammal
I’m pretty sure everyone just thought of a specific one. Yet, there are five species. One is the platypus and the other four are types of echidna. All are listed as critically endangered due to habitat loss and overhunting. Bushfires, drought, and invasive predator species are other threats. At least, that’s what some sites said. Others said only two of the echidnas are critically endangered while the rest are fine. Still with me? I’m guessing at least one person isn’t sure what an echidna is, so I’ll explain.
Echidna:
- Also called spiny anteaters, but not related to true anteaters.
- There is the short-beaked echidna, Eastern long-beaked echidna, Western long-beaked echidna, and Sir David’s Echidna aka Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna. (They don’t actually have beaks.)
- When threatened, they will try to bury themselves with their spines aimed up. If they can’t dig, they roll into a ball.
- Males have spurs that secrete a milky substance during breeding season. (This is important for later.)
- They have no teeth.
- They can feel vibrations through their nose.
- Both males and females have pouches.
- No, they don’t punch people when angry.
- Babies are called puggles.
Eastern Long-Beaked Echidna
Short-Beaked Echidna
Sir David’s Echidna
Western Long-Beaked Echidna
So, what about the platypus?
- They are REAL animals that look like a combination of a duck, otter, and beaver.
- They aren’t green or spies.
- Males have venomous spurs on their hide legs. Venom isn’t deadly, but it hurts.
- Under ultraviolet light, their fur glows green and blue.
- A platypus bill has tens of thousands of sensory receptors to allow them to sense things underwater.
- Platypuses (and echidnas) don’t have stomachs, but gullets that put food directly into the intestine.
- Since they don’t have teeth, they scoop up gravel with food to grinding it down.
Platypus
Let’s get to the videos.
Legends of Windemere 
Fascinating!
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Thanks.
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You’re welcome.
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I think they are darned cute! I think anteaters are also Echidna – the anteater is the mascot for the University of Californa at Irvine . Myrmecophaga, I think.
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Echidnas are also called spiny anteaters, but they’re not related. They got the name because they eat termites and ants. Since they are monotremes, they are considered entirely different species. It’s just that most people put them together thanks to basic similarities.
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Loved this post, Charles. Learn something new every day. Thanks.
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Glad to be of educational service.
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😁
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
See all the photos and four videos on Charles’ original blog post 😃
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Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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My pleasure, Charles 😃
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Incredible critters!
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They really are. 🙂
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Amazing creatures. This world has incredible animals. What a pity we don’t value them as we should.
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I think most people do kind of value them, but its the ones with influence over our world who don’t. Your average human would probably be amazed by these creatures and easily understand why they should be protected.
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing.
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They are cuties! Thanks for sharing, Charles! Have a good week ahead! xx Michael
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You’re welcome. Have a great week too.
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Great post! Of course I think of Phineas and Ferb.
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Yup. Funny thing is that the show made people think platypuses are fictional.
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And I believe they lay eggs.
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Yup. All monotremes are egg-laying mammals.
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