Interactions

 

Food Source

     Tachyglossus aculeatus typically eat invertebrates such as termites and ants. They get to the termites by destroying the termite mounds. Their claws are great tools to break into the mounds for food. Learn more about their claws on the Form and Functions page. During the mating season, T. aculeatus are especially fond of meat ants (Rismiller and Seymour 1991).

 

Predators

    Tachyglossus aculeatus have many predators throughout Australia. Feral cats are one of the main causes of death for T. aculeatus. They have other animals to worry about; foxes are another predator (Rismiller and McKelvey 2003). T. aculeatus must watch out for the threat of pigs and dingoes (Rismiller and McKelvey 2000). The young have even more predators to watch out for. If a young falls out of its mother’s pouch or becomes vulnerable, meat ants will attack and kill it. They also are vulnerable to predators that can get into their nursery burrows. Both Kangaroo Island goanna, a large lizard, and large snakes prey on the young in their burrows (Rismiller and Seymour 1991). T. aculeatus have many threats to be aware of. Despite all of their predators, echidnas are not on the endangered list. Find out more about their species' status at Red List.

 

Competitors

     There are a couple of species that inadvertently affect Tachyglossus aculeatus. Rabbits can affect the vegetation that T. aculeatus live in (Rismiller and McKelvey 2003). This can affect their natural habitat and leave them more vulnerable. People may also be causing harm to T. aculeatus. There is a possibility that herbicides are affecting the invertebrates that they eat. There is not any conclusive evidence to suggest this, though (Rismiller and McKelvey 2000).

 

 

                         Back to Reproduction                       Home                                   Go to Facts