This family includes only two genera, each with one species. Zaglossus , the long-nosed echidna, is found in New Guinea, and Tachyglossus , the short nosed echidna, is native to Australia.
Echidnas have spines covering their stout bodies.
They curl up into a spine-covered ball in a rather effective method of defense. Echidnas are powerful diggers and can wedge themselves into a burrow or crevice with their spines so that they are difficult to remove. In general, echidnas dig for food, which consists of termites, ants, and assorted invertebrates. Food is located with the help of special electroreceptors located in the rostrum. Echidnas have long, protrusible, mucous-covered tongues that aid in the capture of prey.