THE ECHIDNA HAS spines like a porcupine, a beak like a bird, a pouch like a kangaroo, and lays eggs like a reptile. Also known as spiny anteaters, they're small, solitary mammals native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They're usually between 12 and 17 inches long and weigh between 4 and 10 pounds.

There are two genera of echidna. The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) belongs to the genus Tachyglossus, while the three species of long-beaked echidna belong to the genus Zaglossus. Short-beaked echidnas are smaller and have longer hair than long-beaked echidnas. Long-beaked echidnas, native to New Guinea, include one species named after Sir David Attenborough (Z. attenborough).

These animal oddities are elusive, but the more scientists discover about echidnas, the weirder it gets. Read on to see for yourself.
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