Amazon Quiz: Name this animal which exhibits a rare characteristic among mammals?

Options:

Platypus

Echidna

Tapir

Anteater

Answer: Echidna

Echidnas, sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals. The echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs.

The diet of Echidnas mainly consists of ants and termites and they are mainly found in Australia and New Guinea. They have been evolving for the past 20 and 50 million years. It is believed that although their ancestor was aquatic, echidnas adapted to life on land.

They are named after Echidna, a creature from Greek mythology who was half-woman, and half-snake. This is because the animal was perceived to have qualities of both mammals and reptiles.

These solitary mammals are covered with coarse hair and spines,  that are made of keratin. They resemble the anteaters of South America and other spiny mammals such as hedgehogs and porcupines. Echidnas have short, strong limbs with large claws, and hence are prolific and powerful diggers

They feed by tearing open soft logs and anthills, using their long, sticky tongue, protruding from its snout to prey.  They are also capable swimmers.

Echidnas do not tolerate extreme temperatures. As a result, they typically use caves and rock crevices to shelter from harsh weather conditions. They can be found in forests and woodlands, hiding under vegetation, roots, or piles of debris. Occasionally they also use the burrows of animals such as rabbits and wombats. 

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