Activity and behaviour of lactating echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus multiaculeatus) from hatching of egg to weaning of young

Abstract

Throughout their Australia-wide distribution, short-beaked echidnas breed during the winter months, i.e. June through early September. Actual duration of the female reproductive cycle, from attracting males and mating until weaning the young, can vary from 7 to 9 months depending on geographic location. Much of this variation is due to length of courtship and age of weaning the young. This paper presents data about the behaviour of free-ranging female echidnas on Kangaroo Island from egg laying through to weaning and compares it with findings from other areas. On Kangaroo Island, behaviour of lactating echidnas falls into two distinct phases: (1) while carrying the young in the pouch; and (2) after the young is placed in a nursery burrow. Females significantly increased both the number of hours active each day as well as the size of area utilised after the young was in the nursery. Although types of nursery burrows are similar throughout Australia, duration of use and frequency visited varies between geographic locations. A major difference is that Kangaroo Island echidnas are often active while carrying either the egg or the young in the pouch and echidnas in other regions remain in a burrow for extended periods.

Functional characterization of the rod visual pigment of the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), a basal mammal

“…All living monotremes are nocturnal, homeothermic, and possess a low rate of reproduction (Dawson et al, 1979;Rismiller, 1999;Werneburg & Sánchez-Villagra, 2010). However, some diurnal activity has also been occasionally observed for echidnas (T. aculeatus multiaculeatus) (Rismiller & McKelvey, 2009). Overall, monotremes exhibit an intriguing mosaic of reptilian and mammalian characters in terms of anatomy, physiology, and reproduction (Griffiths, 1989;Campbell & Reece, 2009).…”

Spatial ecology of a ubiquitous Australian anteater, the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

“…If home-range size is determined primarily by availability of food relative to metabolic requirements, within Australia differences in the proportions of ants and termites in echidna diets could result in differences in spatial ecology. However, studies on home ranges of echidnas in a variety of environments, including the Western Australian wheatbelt (Abensperg-Traun 1991), the Snowy Mountains (Augee et al 1992), Kangaroo Island (Rismiller and McKelvey 1994), and southeastern Queensland (Wilkinson et al 1998), despite using different estimation methods, have given reasonably consistent mean home-range sizes of approximately 40-65 ha (Table 1).…”

Marsupial and monotreme milk—a review of its nutrient and immune properties

“…Short-beaked echidna young can suckle 10-20% of their body mass in 30-60 min (Green, Griffiths & Newgrain, 1985;Griffiths, 1965). As lactation progresses frequency of feeding young decreases in monotremes and the time the mother spends out foraging for food increases (Morrow & Nicol, 2012;Rismiller & McKelvey, 2009;Thomas et al, 2020). Green, Griffiths & Newgrain (1985) estimated that echidna young grow at a rate of 0.41 ± 0.10 g mL −1 of milk consumed.…”