| Awesome Victor, the short-beaked echidna is being held here by Tavio at the San Diego Childrens Zoo. Cora is the cute girl stroking Victor's quills. Meet a strange and wonderful creature over 50 years old called an echidna, or spiny anteater. From Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania, this primitive mammal is like the duckbill platypus in that THE GIRLS CAN LAY EGGS! This is a primitive creature from prehistoric times that has adapted over many many years. They have no teeth, but a long sticky tongue to eat ants, earthworms and termites. It has a very good sense of smell at the end of it's nose (or beak), and good ears (has ear slits) and can dig like crazy - just look at those claws! To have babies, the female lays sort of a leathery egg the size of a grape! She rolls the small egg into a pouch on her stomach. A baby echidna that hatches 10 days later is called a PUGGLE! She secretes from a gland in the pouch to feed the baby... she has no nipples like other mammals. For free cartoon clipart of animals (with funny sayings) visit my website at www.lillyarts.com. For more information en.wikipedia.org ABOUT ECHIDNAS AT WIKIPEDIA AND www.sandiegozoo.org ECHIDNA INFO AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO AND www.parks.tas.gov.au AUSTRALIA TASMANIA PARKS ECHIDNA |
