Echidna Watch

Members have suggested that action is required to cheek the location and status of Echidnas in Queensland. In response, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland has set up an Echidna Watch program to identify, to start with, Echidnas found in South East Queensland. Information recorded will be contributed to an Australia wide Echidna Watch program, coordinated by Peggy Rismiller in South Australia. That survey recently recorded that 22% of Echidnas sighted were dead and 90% of these were due to road kills, followed by electric fences. While they are considered common their distribution is becoming sparse, particularly in arid regions. Echidnas are also listed as culturally significant in the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 1994.

The Short-Beaked Echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus, is one of the much-loved icons of Australia. Several subspecies of this monotreme are found across Australia with Tachyglossus aculeatus aculeatus the most likely to be found in Queensland. Echidnas may vary between different habitats and subspecies but they are easily recognised by the fact that long spines with fur present between cover their dorsal surface and rudimentary tail. They have short and powerful limbs with five toes and strong spatulate claws, and a long tubular snout with long tongue, which may be up to 17cm long when fully extended. The male has a non-venomous spur on the ankle of its hindleg. Echidnas vary in size from 2-7 Kg or 30-45cm in length.

Echidnas use their strong forepaws to dig into termite and ant mounds, and extend their long tongues into the galleries to feed on termites, ants and their eggs and larvae. They are also known to feed on beetles, earthworms, moth larvae, cockroaches and centipedes. The affect of herbicides and pesticides on Echidnas and their food is as yet unknown but it is reasonable to assume there will be some effect.

Echidnas are solitary animals and difficult to see, when inactive they will shelter under thick bushes, in hollow logs, crevices and occasionally in rabbit and wombat burrows. When disturbed they will curl themselves into a ball or dig into the ground presenting their attacker with a ball of spines. They are generally active during the day though this can change in response to environmental conditions with a move to dawn / dusk or nocturnal activity during hot periods. A body temperature of greater than 35 C is lethal thus their activities are based around avoiding hot weather. In some parts of their range Echidnas also utilise hibernation to avoid extreme cold or torpor to conserve energy in hot weather. During hibernation their body temperature falls from 31-2 C to approximately 5 C. The duration of hibernation depends on reproductive activities, as if sexually active they need to wake to mate.

Mating occurs in July and August and during this time long 'trains' of Echidnas can be seen with males following a female until she is receptive to mating. They do not breed every year but when they do the females construct burrows to be used while incubating and suckling the young. About two weeks after copulation, a single soft-shelled egg is laid, probably directly into the pouch formed by muscular folds on the belly of the female. It hatches after about 10 days and sucks up milk exuded from the numerous pores of the paired mammary glands (milk patch). Spines appear at about 3 months of age but young may be left in the burrow prior to this time while the female forages outside. Juveniles tend to be first seen from September to November when about 1 year old and weighing 1 - 2 kg. While the adults have no major predators other than humans, goannas, foxes, cats and large snakes prey on the young.

Large overlapping home ranges, approximately 50 hectares in size, are utilised by the Echidna for food and shelter. Echidnas have been found in a wide range of habitats all over Australia including desert, rainforest, bush and snow. WPSQ has even had reports of Echidnas in Brisbane suburban gardens! The only known habitat requirement is a supply of food, namely ants and termites.

Echidna Watch Survey Form (PDF)

Links

http://www.echidna.edu.au/monohome.htm

http://www.geobop.com/Mammals/Monotremata/Tachyglossidae/index.htm