The Short-Beaked Echidna
Note: When referring to the Echidna, reference is to the Tachyglossus aculeatus
Adaptations & Survival
Structural, Behavioural and Physiological adaptations of the Echidna and how each assists in the organism surviving
Structural Adaptation:
Echidnas have spines that cover their body. These spines are sharp and are able to prevent predators from consuming them. As their enemies spot these spines, they realise they can’t eat the Echidna and therefore help them survive.
Structural Adaptation:
Echidnas have spines that cover their body. These spines are sharp and are able to prevent predators from consuming them. As their enemies spot these spines, they realise they can’t eat the Echidna and therefore help them survive.
Behavioural Adaptation:
As Echidnas have forepaws, they decide to use them to dig and break into nests of insects such as ants. Once they break in, they flick their long tongue in and out. As their tongue is long and sticky, this allows them to catch their prey. This adaptation allows them to survive, as this is the main way the Short-beaked Echidna gathers food and without it, it could possibly die. |
Physiological Adaptation:
The Short-beaked Echidnas only lays one egg and this hatches 10 days after in the pouch. The Echidna then produces milk for the baby to suck for around two months. This allows them to survive because if they produced more than one egg at a time, they may not have enough milk for the babies and the demand for milk may be too high that it could potentially kill the mother Echidna. Also if the Echidna doesn’t have enough milk for more than one baby, then the other babies could die.
The Short-beaked Echidnas only lays one egg and this hatches 10 days after in the pouch. The Echidna then produces milk for the baby to suck for around two months. This allows them to survive because if they produced more than one egg at a time, they may not have enough milk for the babies and the demand for milk may be too high that it could potentially kill the mother Echidna. Also if the Echidna doesn’t have enough milk for more than one baby, then the other babies could die.