Echidnas are quill-covered, egg-laying mammals without teeth.

They are solitary and covered with coarse hair and spines made of keratin.

Echidnas evolved between 20 and 50 million years ago and have aquatic, platypus-like ancestors.

They have short, strong limbs with large claws, and are powerful diggers.

The Short-beaked Echidna's diet consists largely of ants and termites and their average lifespan in the wild is around 14–16 years.

Echidnas are capable swimmers and are known to journey to water in order to groom and bathe themselves.