spiny anteater
Australia's egg-layer mammal
A spiny anteater is another name for the echidna, a small egg-laying mammal native to Australia and New Guinea.
Like the unrelated anteaters of the Americas, echidnas have long snouts and sticky tongues for catching ants and termites.
Their backs are covered with coarse spines similar to a hedgehog's.
Reproducing via external ova
Beast's protruding face
- electroreceptorsBiological voltage detectors
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- quillsHollow defensive animal spikes
- keratinStructural hair protein
fur · beak · tongue · pouch · mammary glands · cloaca · spur · hind limbs
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- curlingForming curved shapes
- ballSpherical plaything or gala
- protectionGuarding against harm
- armorProtective combat covering
predator · burrowing · hiding · camouflage · keratin · sharp · deterrent · threatened
Egg-laying Australian mammal
- outbackRemote interior wilderness
- TasmaniaIsland state below Australia
- aboriginalIndigenous to a place
- bushlandUncultivated native vegetation area
eucalyptus · Australian fauna · endemic · Gondwana · New Guinea · wildlife sanctuary · zoo · conservation
Active during darkness
- crepuscularRelating to dusk
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- burrowingDigging to create shelter
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
hibernation · torpor · sniffing · digging · termite mound · tongue flicking · wandering · slow-moving
egg-laying
Reproducing via external ova
nursing · incubation · hatching · weaning · breeding season
snout
Beast's protruding face
- electroreceptorsBiological voltage detectors
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- quillsHollow defensive animal spikes
keratin · fur · beak · tongue · pouch · mammary glands · cloaca · spur · hind limbs · forelimbs
quills
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- curlingForming curved shapes
- ballSpherical plaything or gala
- protectionGuarding against harm
armor · predator · burrowing · hiding · camouflage · keratin · sharp · deterrent · threatened
platypus
Egg-laying Australian mammal
- outbackRemote interior wilderness
- TasmaniaIsland state below Australia
- aboriginalIndigenous to a place
bushland · eucalyptus · Australian fauna · endemic · Gondwana · New Guinea · wildlife sanctuary · zoo · conservation
nocturnal
Active during darkness
- crepuscularRelating to dusk
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- burrowingDigging to create shelter
solitary · hibernation · torpor · sniffing · digging · termite mound · tongue flicking · wandering · slow-moving