Definition of echidna Echidna

/ɪkɪˈdnʌ/ - [ikidnu] - e•chid•na

We found 9 definitions of echidna from 7 different sources.

What does echidna mean?

Noun Plural: echidnas
echidna - a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to Australia
		spiny anteater, anteater
		egg-laying mammal, monotreme the most primitive mammals comprising the only extant members of the subclass Prototheria
echidna - a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to New Guinea
		spiny anteater, anteater
		egg-laying mammal, monotreme the most primitive mammals comprising the only extant members of the subclass Prototheria

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echidna (Noun)
Any of the four species of small spined monotremes, also known as a spiny anteaters, found in Australia and southern New Guinea .

echidna (n.)
A monster, half maid and half serpent.
echidna (n.)
A genus of Monotremata found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They are toothless and covered with spines; -- called also porcupine ant-eater, and Australian ant-eater.

echidna
Echidnas, also known as "spiny anteaters", are the only surviving monotremes apart from the Platypus.

echidna
ek-id′na, n. a genus of Australian toothless burrowing monotremate mammals, armed with porcupine-like spines, laying eggs instead of bringing forth the young.—n. Echid′nine, serpent-poison. [Formed from Gr. echidna, a viper.]

An Echidna also called "spiny anteaters", is a monotreme that lives in Australia and in New Zealand. They form the family Tachyglossidae.

Echnidas have a long, tube-like mouth with a sticky tongue, but they are also covered in spines. They are also called spiny anteaters. Echidnas are monotremes, which means they have mammary glands, but lay eggs too.

The echidna has a unique way of protecting itself. With its long, sharp claws, they quickly dig a hole until only their spines are accessible. The predator will not be able to get to it without injuring itself. Spiny anteaters eat ants. They also eat other small insects. Echidnas pick up the bugs with their sticky tongues.