Echidna growth estimates

Milk Age (Days) Body length (mm) Weight (grams)
< 30 10 55 10
" 15 70 25
" 20 85 45
" 25 100 65
" 30 115 95
Transition from <30 to >30 31 to 35 12 ml < 30     +     3 ml > 30
" 36 to 40 "
" 41 to 45 9 ml < 30     +     6 ml > 30
" 46 to 49 "
Out of pouch Body length (mm)
> 30 50 170 250
" 60 200 360
" 70 225 500
" 80 255 640
" 90 285 780
" 100 310 850
" 110 340 1060
" 120 370 1200
" 130 395 1350
" 140 425 1480
" 150 450 1620
" 160 480 1760
" 170 510 1900
" 180 540 2040
" 190 570 2180
" 200 600 2320
" 220 630 2460


About Echidnas:

Australia’s Short Beaked Echidna, inhabits most of Australia, whereas the Long Beaked Echidna resides in New Guinea. They are solitary, only meeting up to mate.They mate between July and August, and within approximately 2-3 weeks after mating, the female echidna lays one egg, which is deposited directly into the fold of skin on her abdomen, by curling up her body. The egg hatches about ten days after being laid. The newborn echidna is blind, without spines and is carried in the fold of skin until it is about 50 days old.
It is fed a low fat milk which is secreted from the pores in the ‘pouch’ area. Once the baby is about 50 days old, it is left in a secure place such as a disused burrow, or hollow. The mother feeds the baby once every five to ten days, on a milk now rich in fat The young echidna’s spines are well developed by the time it leaves the burrow, approximately 6 - 8 months later.
The male actually has a slight fold of skin on its abdomen, much the same as the female, except that this fold on the male is muscle, whereby the fold on the female’s abdomen is where eventually she will hold the egg. This area also has the milk producing glands of the female, which swell just prior to the egg hatching.
The spur of the male echidna is different to that of the platypus, in that the platypus spur is poisonous, and the echidna’s isn’t. (The platypus and echidna are the only Monotremes in the world.) Echidnas have powerful forepaws, which are used to break into termite mounds. It’s sticky 18 centimetre long tongue, draws the termites into it’s mouth, where it grinds them up against the palate and a horny pad at the base of the tongue. Echidnas don’t have teeth. They also eat ants, invertebrates, worms, beetles, larvae, and cockroaches.
They can go without eating for many days, as 40% of their body weight is fat. In cold climates. echidnas have been known to hibernate for up to 6 months, and the fur situated between the spines can actually cover the spines.
Echidnas can roll themselves into a ball when threatened.
In arid zones, the Echidna seeks shelter during the heat of the day, and forages in the cool of the night. In temperate areas, it can be seen foraging during the day.
They are one of the hosts for ticks.

Copyright © 2003 Lynda Staker - Taken from Lynda Staker's book "Don't Step Backwards"

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