Creator Gould's Mammals of Australia (1845-1863)

Date 1863

The Echidna, or Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), the most widespread native animal in Austrlia, is an egg-laying mammal or monotreme.It eats ants and other insects with a darting tounge, and has no fighting ability other than to curl up into a defensive ball of spines..(syn Echidna hystrix: Gould)

Source: Smithsonian Library