Order: Monotremes (Monotremata)

Family: Echidnas (Tachyglossidae)

Habitat: savanna and open forest of central and southeastern Meganesia.

Monotremes of the Neocene are considerably more varied than those of the Holocene. Both platypi and echidna occupy diverse niches, mostly consuming small animals, insects and forage.

The Crested Echidna is a fairly large echidna, being similar in size and shape to the long-beaked echidna of human times (Zaglossus). It is about 60-90 cm long, and weighs up to 14 kilograms. It has relatively long, almost erect legs for an echidna, suitable for walking long distances in search of its food, ants, termites, and beetle grubs. It has a long snout, and large claws, which aid it in digging open insect nests, or grub burrows. The most obvious feature of this animal, however, are its spines. It's back is covered in a large crest of very long spines, similar to those of a porcupine, such spines can be up to 40 cm long. Shorter, stouter spines cover the rest of the body, and the tail has a cluster of fairly long spines too. Its fur is a light, dusty brown, and the long crest spines are banded in black and white, serving as a warning for predators. Shorter spines are yellow. rostrum, face, and feet are covered in black skin.

For this newer kind of echidna, spines have been taken from their initial purpose of passive defense, to more active vigorous protection similar to some porcupines. Firstly, at sighting a predator, echidna turns around, erects spines, and makes abrupt whistling noises through its nose, this is a warning. Then it will confront a predator, facing backward, with spines pointed at the hunter, and will make violent thrusting motions and short, backward charges. If the predator gets too close, these motions will intensify, and the predator may be badly stabbed by such long spines. Unlike the porcupine, these spines are firmly rooted in the echidna's thick hide, and do not come off when driven into a predator. In fact, after stabbing a predator, the echidna will make efforts to extract itself (spines are not barbed), and retreat.

During the wet season, when plant growth and abundance of insects is best, females become receptive, and smell musky. Males will not stab each other, when competing for mates, but posture and shake their spines vigorously. After copulation, 1 large egg is layed into the pouch. The pouch is forward facing, and well developed, this species does not make a nursery burrow. The female carries the egg, and then baby, until the young is mobile, and large enough to follow her, spines grow soon after.

This mammal is discovered by Timothy Donald Morris, Adelaide, Australia.