7 things you might not know about echidnas | 台北市立動物園資訊網

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They’re spiky, slow-moving and native to Australia but there is much more to short-beaked echidnas – also known as spiny anteaters – than meets the eye.

South Australia is home to lots of amazing native species[1], and these guys are no exception. They can be found in many of South Australia’s national parks[2] and aren’t as rare as you might think.

Make sure you’re on point with your echidna knowledge when you next spot one in the wild. Here are some fun facts:

Believe it or not, the spines you see on an echidna are actually an enlarged, tough form of hair.

These spines are an echidna’s main line of defence when predators strike. When under threat, they will roll up into a ball of radiating spines to protect themselves or dig themselves to safety.

As well as being covered in spines, echidnas are also covered in shorter fur to keep them warm.

Echidnas found in South...