Tachyglossus aculeatus

6 Short-beaked Echidna at Majura, ACT

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Identification history

	Tachyglossus aculeatus	30 Jul 2019	MichaelBedingfield
	Tachyglossus aculeatus	30 Jul 2019	JenniM

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User's notes

Two were walking together, the other was foraging back and forth, eventually joining them on the other side of the log. They hid their faces under the log (not foraging).

4 comments

waltraud wrote:

30 Jul 2019

Congratulation Jenni for your first contribution to CNM and what a beautiful sighting!
:)

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

31 Jul 2019

Jenni winter is echidna breeding season, and what you were lucky enough to witness is an echidna train, where hopeful males follow a female. Trains can last for up to 6 weeks and I think the record number in a train is 11 animals, but 3 -4 is most common. When the female is ready she will stop near a bush and dig in a bit. Males then dig a donut shaped trench around her and push each other about to be the only (mating) male left in the trench.

waltraud wrote:

31 Jul 2019

males are funny!

Waterwatch wrote:

31 Jul 2019

How fantastic! I had no idea about that mating ritual but it would explain why I see so many around when I'm out doing platypus surveys in August! Thanks Jenni and thanks Michael for the insight!

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