echidna

Everyday

1. An echidna is a small spiny animal from Australia and New Guinea that eats ants and termites with a long sticky tongue. tree →
2. It is one of the only mammals that lay eggs, together with the platypus. tree →
3. In Greek myths, Echidna was a monster, half woman and half serpent. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons it is a famous example of a monotreme, an egg-laying mammal; in Australia and New Zealand children learn it is a native animal. It is also called a spiny anteater. Phrases: «a short-beaked echidna», «a baby echidna (a puggle)».

Examples

• An echidna is covered in sharp spines. tree →
• The echidna curled up into a spiky ball. tree →
• Echidnas lay eggs, but they are still mammals. tree →
• It licks up ants with its long, sticky tongue. tree →
• A baby echidna is called a puggle. tree →
• We saw an echidna crossing the bush track. tree →
• Echidnas live in Australia and New Guinea. tree →
• [48] Echidna was a bloodthirsty monster, half maiden, half serpent. tree →

Note

Pronounced «ih-KID-nuh». Countable: an echidna. Trap: it looks like a hedgehog or porcupine but is not related to them. Mammals that lay eggs are very rare: only echidnas and the platypus.