The ECHIDNA
Little is known concerning the breeding habits of the other egg-laying mammal, the echidna or spiny anteater. Yet it is easily kept in captivity; and a pet "porcupine" is not as rare as a zoo platypus. Many people believe that our spiny anteater is actually a native porcupine merely because of its quills. The true porcupines of Europe and America belong to the order Rodentia, containing rabbits, rats, mice and other gnawing animals. The echidna, of course, is a monotreme, or egg-laying mammal, and the platypus's nearest relative.
There are nearly a dozen kinds of Echidna. One species is confined to Australia, with a variety in Tasmania ; the others are native to New Guinea . All are provided with powerful claws and are master diggers. The Papuan forms, with one exception, differ from their Australian brothers in that they have a much longer snout, curving downward, and a less spiny body; . they may also possess from three to five claws. In all the spiny anteaters, the toes of the hind-feet are directed backward. The Australian species has longer spines or quills than any other form. In the Tasmanian "porcupine," which is smaller than the mainland species, the spines are so small that they scarcely project above the fur. The claws are specialised, and the short, strong legs adapted for digging. This is the echidna's first line of defence when surprised on soft and workable soil, and in such ground it may disappear from view within a few minutes. On stony ground, however, other tactics are adopted. The little creature forms itself into a dome bristling with quills; or it may roll over on to its back, tucking in the tender beak, while the large-clawed feet give some protection to all soft and easily vulnerable parts.
So powerful are these quaint mammals, that zoo specimens have been known to dig their way out of a concrete-floored enclosure. A pet "porky" once escaped from a box, the lid of which was held down with a large stone weighing about 20 pounds. Exerting all his strength, he pushed the lid up and scrambled out of the box.
The spiny anteater makes an interesting pet, and may live for a long time in captivity. It feeds readily upon milk, soft-boiled eggs or egg-pulp, lapping this food up with its long, narrow, tape-like tongue. This protrudes from the beak, which, like the tongue, is specialised to suit the creature's peculiar feeding habits. Ants and termites are its natural foods, and in search of them the echidna digs into decaying logs and tree-stumps, overturns stones, and demolishes white. ants' nests. The insects have no chance of escape, and sluggish termites and scurrying ants are gathered up by the long, sticky tongue which shoots rapidly in and out of the cylindrical beak.