Why do echidnas have spikes?
Quick answer from Eartha
An echidna's spikes are for protection! They are actually stiff, hollow hairs, not sharp bones. When a scary animal comes close, the echidna curls into a tight, spiky ball or digs straight down into the dirt. Either way, all a hungry predator sees is a prickly pincushion, and nothing yummy to eat.
The longer story
Echidnas are shy, gentle animals, so their spikes do all the tough work for them. Each spike is made of keratin, the same material as our fingernails and hair, just grown long and stiff.
When an echidna senses danger, it has two clever tricks. It can curl into a ball so only spikes point outward, or it can dig incredibly fast, sinking straight down into soft soil until just its spiky back is showing above the ground.
Underneath all those spikes, an echidna also has soft fur to keep it warm. The spikes are just on the back and sides, while the belly stays fuzzy and safe.
Echidnas are one of only two mammals in the world that lay eggs, the other being the platypus. That makes their spiky, egg-laying bodies pretty special in the animal kingdom.
Try this at home: spiky ball craft
- Scrunch a piece of paper or foil into a small ball for the echidna's body.
- Push in some dry pasta or toothpicks as pretend spikes, pointing outward.
- Practise curling your hand around it like a predator, and notice how the spikes make it hard to touch.
Words to know
- Keratin
- The tough material that makes up hair, nails, and echidna spikes.
- Predator
- An animal that hunts other animals for food.
For grown-ups: what is my child learning here?
Age band: Ages 5-8
Curriculum link: Australian Curriculum v9 Science, Year 1 — living things have external features that help them survive in their environment.
The concept: Children learn that body coverings like spikes can be a survival adaptation for defence.
More classroom ideas are on our teachers page, and safety notes for families are on for parents.
Last reviewed: · How we check answers
More questions kids ask
Got a nature question of your own?
Ask Eartha your own question →