EchidnaWatch
© Canva NFP
Have you seen an echidna lately? Wildlife Queensland’s EchidnaWatch program is gathering information on the distribution and abundance of echidnas, and we need your help.
Our aims
The only species of echidna in Queensland, and Australia — the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is one of our most beloved and unique animals. With a distribution that extends from Tasmania to the Top End, this ambling adventurer can be found anywhere from the outback to the backyard. Echidnas are considered common, but hard facts about their distribution are scarce.
We know that echidnas don’t cope well with traffic and often become roadkill. But we need to know the real extent of the damage cars do to echidna numbers. We also need information on how echidnas are coping with modern hazards and introduced pests.
EchidnaWatch aims to collate information on the distribution of echidnas in Queensland. We can share this information with Wildnet, the wildlife data repository for the EPA, and other organisations, to help plan for better outcomes for echidnas.
Footage: GKVP/PEXELS
Get involved
EchidnaWatch educational resources
Species profile
Fact sheets & guides
- Short-beaked echidna Information Booklet
- Echidna Fun Facts by Kate Dutton-Regester
- Echidna Quills by Kate Dutton-Regester
- Echidna Pouch Development by Kate Dutton-Regester
- Echidna Reproduction Cycle by Kate Dutton-Regester
- Echidna Tongue by Kate Dutton-Regester
Videos, webinars & picture books
EchidnaWatch videos
- EchnidaWatch. Watch video
EchidnaWatch webinars & picture books
- Echidna Encounters in South East Queensland by Kate Dutton-Regester (flipbook)
Further reading
Articles & papers
- Augee, M, Gooden, B, and Musser, M (2006) Echidna Extraordinary egg-laying mammal, CSIRO Publishing
Short-beaked Echidna Information Booklet
Published in January 2024, the Short-beaked Echidna Information Booklet provides fascinating facts about the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), ways to identify them, main threats to echidnas, and how you can help protect these amazing monotremes by reporting your sightings to EchidnaWatch.
Download the free booklet as a PDF. You can also email us to request a printed copy.
Latest EchidnaWatch news
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