TACHYGLOSSIDAE, Gill, 1872

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Tachyglossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 34-56 : 34

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6670846
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6612133
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D84416-066C-FF93-FE4B-FDAE2876FAE8
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	TACHYGLOSSIDAE
status

Treatment

Family TACHYGLOSSIDAE View in CoL

(ECHIDNAS)

* Medium-sized, egg-laying mammals, completely lacking teeth, adapted for insectivorous or myrmecophagous diet, with robust, dome-shaped, spine-covered bodies and slender beaks.

e 30-65 cm. View Figure

* Australasian Region. View Figure

* Mainly montane forests and alpine grasslands in New Guinea, but almost all terrestrial habitats in Australia.

s 2 genera, 4 species, 11 taxa.

* 3 species Critically Endangered; none Extinct since 1600.