A spine-covered, egg-laying mammal 30-45 cm long with a slender snout and a rapid, extensible tongue for capturing ants and termites. Widespread across Australia and parts of New Guinea, it burrows readily and hibernates through winter rather than sweating to cool down.
Taxonomy
- Order / family / genus
- Monotremata · Tachyglossidae · Tachyglossus
Conservation
Least concern
· LCWidespread and abundant taxa.